Earth Science & Geology Expert
AfterQuery • Remote
Education
Master's
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$85/hr
Listed
29d ago
About this role
From the AfterQuery listing
Geologists and earth scientists to build the geoscience and climate scenarios frontier AI labs use to test model judgment.
AfterQuery builds the expert evaluation data that frontier AI labs use to measure and improve their models. We're hiring geologists and earth scientists as contractors to author and grade the geoscience and climate scenarios those evaluations run on.
What you'll actually do
Author realistic geoscience scenarios from field observation through interpretation, the kind a working geologist actually reasons through.
Write reference answers with the geological reasoning behind each interpretation, processes and timescales weighed.
Grade model output on geoscience and climate questions for physical accuracy and appropriate uncertainty.
Flag explanations that read fluent but get the earth science wrong, the misses only a trained geoscientist would catch.
Who this is for
Geologists and earth scientists with an advanced degree or equivalent professional experience.
Researchers, industry geologists, and consultants across sedimentology, hydrology, geophysics, volcanology, and climate science.
Scientists who reason from process and evidence, whether the data comes from an outcrop, a core, or a model.
People with strong written English who can turn scientific judgment into clear, teachable reasoning.
Contract and pay
$60 to $110/hr, paid weekly via Stripe. Your rate is set from your experience, not negotiated down after you start.
Remote and async: fully remote, fully async. No fixed hours.
Minimum 10 hours per week, no maximum. Scale up or down week to week.
No screen recording, no keystroke monitoring, no idle timers.
Independent contractor. Ongoing project work rather than single task batches.
How our hiring process works
Apply at /apply/earth-science-geology-expert. About five minutes. Resume plus a few structured questions.
Resume review. Every application gets read against a published rubric and gets a decision.
Written assessment. You may be asked to take a written assessment for further placement.
Onboarding. Sign the contractor agreement, connect Stripe, and get platform access.
Project match. You're matched to live work in your specialty, usually within a week of onboarding.
About AfterQuery
AfterQuery is an expert data lab. We build the evaluation and training data that frontier AI labs use to measure what their models can and can't do in real professional work. Our contributors are practicing professionals, not annotators, and the work is credited, reviewed, and paid at professional rates.
How long hiring takes
Across the AI training platforms we refer candidates to, the median gap between referral and hire is about 30 days. It varies by platform and role, so treat it as a rough guide for this one.
Why this role
At $85/hr, this Earth Science & Geology Expert position compensates STEM expertise on its own terms, the kind of rate that would otherwise only show up inside a law firm, hospital, or research lab.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've matched 65 people with a STEM background against 726 STEM listings we've tracked, so most go out without one. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for a role like this one.
Set up your profileSkills and categories
Explore other opportunities in related specializations:
Related jobs
Browse All Jobs from AfterQuery
Discover more opportunities on AfterQuery that match your skills and interests.
View All AfterQuery Jobs →Verified Reviews
Community Reviews
Share your experience with AfterQuery
Help other candidates make better decisions by leaving a review.
Sign in to leave a reviewLeave your review
Common questions
Do I need a PhD to qualify for AfterQuery?
Only for specialist roles: ML research, atmospheric modeling, bioinformatics, COBOL, and audit accounting positions require verifiable credentials, usually a PhD, master's degree, or 5+ years of professional experience. AfterQuery's domain screeners check credentials before confirming an assignment, so listing a degree without the matching experience won't get you through. Generalist reviewer roles have a lower bar but come up less often.
How long do AfterQuery projects last?
Typically 2 to 3 weeks at 10 to 20 hours a week. There's no guaranteed follow-on work once a project closes, so treat it as a high-pay burst contract rather than steady income. AfterQuery does re-hire specialists for new campaigns, but that depends entirely on what AI labs are training at the time.
Do I need a PhD for academic-niche AI training roles?
For the top pay tiers, a PhD or current enrollment is usually expected. But the domain assessment is what decides it: if you can solve the problems, the degree becomes secondary.
Is academic-niche AI training a continuous job?
Usually not. Work runs in campaigns, like training a model specifically on quantum mechanics, that might last a few weeks. Treat it as a high-paying fellowship or grant rather than a permanent daily job.
What does STEM work look like for an Earth Science & Geology Expert?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As an Earth Science & Geology Expert, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to STEM) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on STEM background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
English and Expert are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening process to test for them directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $85/hr, an hourly rate. Pay can change between when we last checked the listing and when you apply, so confirm the current number on the platform's own application page before committing time.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Afterquery's external site to complete your application there. This listing links through a referral, but the process is identical to applying directly; the link just routes you correctly. Create an account on their site and follow their onboarding steps.
Do I need a Master's to qualify?
This role lists a master's degree as a requirement. In practice, the domain assessment is the real gate. If you can pass it, the degree is usually secondary. However, some platforms verify credentials formally, so list your actual qualifications accurately on your profile.