ML Research Expert — Published First Author (Benchmark Authoring)
AfterQuery • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$150/hr
Listed
13d ago
About this role
From the AfterQuery listing
Paid, remote work authoring and validating research-grade ML benchmark tasks. For Master's or PhD-level ML researchers with at least one first-author paper.
Domain: Machine Learning / AI Research
Requirements
Experience: 1+ years of hands-on ML research; no upper limit
Education: Master's or PhD (in progress is fine, including current PhD candidates)
The work
You will design and validate tasks that measure what frontier AI models can actually do across machine learning. We are looking for people who write ML code and publish results, not for annotation or data-labelling experience.
Task areas span: Language Models, Deep Learning, Reinforcement Learning, Vision & Generation, Robotics, ML Systems & Efficient ML, Optimization & Theory, Classical & Adaptive Learning, Time Series & Forecasting, Structured & Causal Reasoning, Trustworthy Learning, and AI for Science.
Application process
Candidates who meet the requirements and provide the requested materials will be prioritised for review. As part of this process we conduct thorough background checks. Please apply only if you meet these requirements.
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 $150/hr, this ML Research Expert — Published First Author (Benchmark Authoring) position compensates Writing 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 Writing candidates
We've matched 30 people with a Writing background against 397 Writing 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.
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Common questions
When does AfterQuery pay contractors?
On a per-contract schedule, typically net-15 to net-30 from invoice submission rather than the weekly payouts some platforms offer. Confirm the exact terms in your contract, and ask your project contact directly if payment timing affects your cash flow.
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.
Is AI training work the same as traditional consulting?
No. Instead of client deliverables, you're given complex scenarios to evaluate: grading the AI's logic, correcting its hallucinations, and supplying expert-level reasoning it doesn't have on its own. The job is closer to teaching than consulting.
Why do these AI training roles pay so much?
Because general knowledge isn't what's being tested. The model already knows the basics; what it needs is expertise on edge cases, the rare, difficult, highly technical judgment calls only a senior professional in the field would make correctly.
What does Writing work look like for a ML Research Expert — Published First Author (Benchmark Authoring)?
Tasks here are scoped to Writing, not generic labeling. As a ML Research Expert — Published First Author (Benchmark Authoring), expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Writing) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Writing background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Expert is named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with this, expect the screening process to test for it directly rather than accepting adjacent experience as a substitute.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $150/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.
Is a PhD required?
For this specific role, yes, or near-equivalent professional depth. The credential gate is enforced at the assessment stage, not just on paper. That said, active PhD candidates and people with equivalent published research have qualified without a formal degree. The assessment is the real filter.