Research PhD (STEM) Part-time

Research PhD (STEM)

$30-$60 per hour

Hourly contract

Remote

Posted by Mercor

Mercor is seeking PhDs and PhD candidates in STEM fields to join a high-impact AI research initiative with a leading AI lab. This role involves evaluating and improving cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) by contributing deep domain expertise and academic research insight to benchmark model performance in scientific and technical disciplines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the accuracy, depth, and relevance of LLM-generated responses in your domain of expertise.
• Design and review complex domain-specific tasks to rigorously test model capabilities.
• Provide structured, high-quality feedback on model strengths and weaknesses.
• Collaborate with AI researchers to identify model limitations and suggest improvements.
• Contribute to the development of benchmark datasets and evaluation protocols.

You're a Strong Fit If You Have:

• A PhD (or are currently a PhD candidate) in a STEM field such as chemistry, physics, mathematics, or related disciplines.
• Deep familiarity with current research and open questions in your domain.
• The ability to critically evaluate scientific reasoning, technical writing, and data-driven insights.
• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication skills.
• Comfort working independently and asynchronously in remote teams.

Role Details:

• Part-time (15–40 hours/week), fully flexible hours.
• 100% remote and asynchronous—work on your own schedule from anywhere.

Compensation & Legal:

• Hourly contractor role via Mercor.
• Competitive pay based on expertise and domain, ranging from $20 to $60 per hour.
• Payments processed weekly through Stripe Connect.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.