Chemistry (PhD)
Mercor • Remote
Education
Any
Type
hourly
Pay Rate (by country)
$29–$73/hr
Listed
202d ago
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About this Role
From the Mercor listing
Fluent Language Skills Required: English
Why This Role Exists
- Write and refine prompts to guide model behavior in chemistry contexts
- Evaluate LLM-generated responses to chemistry-related queries for scientific accuracy, mechanistic correctness, and quantitative reasoning
- Conduct fact-checking using authoritative public sources and domain knowledge
- Annotate model responses by identifying strengths, areas of improvement, and factual or conceptual inaccuracies
- Assess clarity, structure, and appropriateness of explanations for different audiences
- Ensure model responses align with expected conversational behavior and system guidelines
- Apply consistent evaluation standards by following clear taxonomies, benchmarks, and detailed evaluation guidelines
- You hold a PhD in Chemistry or a closely related field
- You have deep expertise in one or more of the following sub-domains:
- Organic & Biological Chemistry
- Inorganic & Materials Chemistry
- Physical & Theoretical Chemistry
- Analytical & Instrumental Chemistry
- You have significant experience using large language models (LLMs) and understand how and why people use them
- You have excellent writing skills and can clearly explain complex chemistry concepts
- You have strong attention to detail and consistently notice subtle issues others may overlook
- Experience reviewing or editing technical or academic writing
- Prior experience with RLHF, model evaluation, or data annotation work
- Experience teaching, mentoring, or explaining chemistry concepts to non-expert audiences
- Familiarity with evaluation rubrics, benchmarks, or structured review frameworks
- You identify inaccuracies or weak reasoning in chemistry-related model outputs
- Your feedback improves the rigor, clarity, and correctness of AI explanations
- You deliver consistent, reproducible evaluation artifacts that strengthen model performance
- Mercor customers trust their AI systems in chemistry contexts because you’ve rigorously evaluated them
Requirements
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
- Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
- Reliable high-speed internet connection
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- Demonstrated expertise in STEM
Eligible Languages
Fluent proficiency in English
Why This Role
Rare opportunity for top 1% experts. Earn $51/hr contributing to the world's most advanced AI labs. This is one of the few roles where academic precision is valued as highly as commercial output.
Skills & Categories
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mercor for freelancers or full-time contractors?
Mercor places you with one client for a defined engagement, like 'Python Tutor for 3 months', rather than having you grab small tasks from a shared queue. Most roles function as steady contract work, not one-off gigs.
Does Mercor's application require an on-camera interview?
Yes, every applicant records a video interview with an AI interviewer that asks questions about your resume. Clients review that recording to judge communication skills before matching, so there's no way to apply without going on camera.
Does it cost money to apply to Mercor?
No, applying and joining Mercor is free. Mercor's revenue comes from a fee it charges the client on top of your hourly rate, not from applicants. Treat any request for payment to join as a red flag.
Is academic-niche AI training just data labeling?
No, it's closer to academic research. Expect to write or verify complex proofs, solve advanced equations, or check the logic behind a model's step-by-step reasoning. The goal is teaching AI systems to reason deeply within your specific field.
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 actually 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 a Chemistry (PhD)?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Chemistry (PhD), 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.
Do I need to be fluent in English?
Yes. This role specifically requires English proficiency. You will likely be evaluated on written fluency during the assessment, not just conversational level. If English is not your first language or you are not professionally fluent, this is not the right role. Filter for your native language to find better-matched listings.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
You'll be taken to Mercor'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.
How soon will I start working after applying to Mercor?
Not immediately. Mercor is a talent marketplace, not a task queue, so applying puts you in a pool of candidates. You start working only once a specific client, like a major AI lab, selects your profile, and that matching process can take weeks.