Theoretical Physicist - Fully Remote | Up to $110/hr

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Mathematical Physicist (PhD)
Type: Contract
Compensation: $80–$110/hour
Location: Remote
Duration: 8 to 10 weeks
Commitment: 10 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and solve research-level physics problems in your subfield. Ensure solutions are complete for independent verification.
• Review and audit completed work, maintaining high standards of written reasoning akin to mathematics.
• Collaborate with peers to create problems and evaluate AI model performance in physics research reasoning.
• Utilize Python, SymPy, and Jupyter for symbolic computation. Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code is useful.
• Work independently and asynchronously to meet deadlines and improve AI model performance.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• PhD in mathematical physics, theoretical physics, or mathematics.
• Published work on specific phenomena in your subfield.
• Verifiable publication record with three to five representative papers.
• Working proficiency with LaTeX, Python, SymPy, and Jupyter.
• English at B2 or above, including written reasoning.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

• Apply and complete the attached form with basic information, education, and research experience.
• Provide up to five areas you are the best fit for, with proof of your work.
• We verify your papers and authorship against the public record.
• Onboard directly or participate in a short live alignment call.
• A brief 30 to 45 minute assessment may be added if needed.

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
• For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.