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Data Science mercor

Climate Data Scientist

Mercor • Remote, Canada, United Kingdom

Education

PhD

Type

Hourly

Pay Rate

$50–$60/hr

Listed

274d ago

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What We Know About This Role

Weekly hours
15 hrs/week

About this role

From the Mercor listing

Mercor is recruiting Climate Data Scientist to work on a research project for one of the world's top AI companies. This project involves using your professional experience to contribute to cutting-edge AI research and development.

Applicants must:

  • Have 4+ years full-time work experience in this field or related area
  • Be based in the US, UK, or Canada
  • Be able to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week
  • Have access to a desktop or laptop computer (not Chromebook)

Compensation: 55USD/hourly competitive rate based on experience and location.

Project Duration: Expected to run through mid-2026 and beyond.

Requirements

  • Must be eligible to work in one of: Remote, Canada, United Kingdom
  • Fluent proficiency in English (Written & Verbal)
  • Reliable high-speed internet connection
  • PhD's degree or equivalent professional experience
  • Demonstrated expertise in Data Science

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.

Within 2 weeks
~25%
Within 6 weeks
~60%
Within 3 months
~80%

Talent Pool members

Apply through this link and we can put you forward to Mercor when your profile is a strong match. Not every applicant is submitted. If you're not in the pool yet, set up your profile first.

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Interview Prep

Sample questions for a Data Scientist role, written in-house to help you prepare.

How do you determine the required sample size for an experiment before running it?

I run a power analysis based on the minimum effect size that would actually matter for the business decision, the expected baseline variance, and the desired statistical power, typically 80%. Skipping this step is how teams end up running underpowered experiments that can't reliably detect real effects, then wrongly concluding a change had no impact.

What's the difference between correlation and causation, and how do you establish the latter with observational data?

Correlation just means two variables move together, which can be driven by a third confounding factor rather than either variable causing the other. With observational data, I look for natural experiments, instrumental variables, or matching techniques to approximate a controlled comparison, since a true randomized experiment usually isn't available and correlation alone can't support a causal claim.

How would you choose between a simpler statistical model and machine learning approach for a forecasting problem?

For data with clear seasonal and trend patterns and limited history, a statistical model like ARIMA or exponential smoothing is often more reliable than machine learning, which typically needs more data to outperform simpler methods. I'd benchmark both against a holdout period rather than assuming the more complex option is automatically better.

How do you handle a situation where your model's predictions need to be explained to justify individual decisions?

I'd use an inherently interpretable model where possible, or apply a post-hoc explanation method like SHAP values on top of a more complex model if the added performance is worth the extra explanation layer. The explanation needs to be accurate to how the model actually makes decisions, not just a plausible-sounding story layered on afterward.

See all 10 questions for this role →

What to Expect

Looking at Mercor Data Science listings we've tracked, contracts in this domain typically run about 3.6 weeks. Actual length varies by project, but this gives you a realistic baseline going in.

Based on 16 extracted Mercor Data Science listings.

Why this role

Being remote means this Climate Data Scientist position pays $50–$60/hr regardless of your zip code, opening up Data Science work that used to require living in one of a handful of cities.

Talent pool

We're light on Data Science candidates

We've matched 9 people with a Data Science background against 293 Data Science 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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Skills and categories

Explore other opportunities in related specializations:

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Common questions

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 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.

What does task-based AI training work look like?

Practical, hands-on data work: recording short videos, categorizing images, rating text responses, or analyzing data. Tasks are designed to be short and distinct, typically 5 to 60 minutes each.

What does asynchronous AI training work mean in practice?

No set hours, no check-ins, no meetings. You log in when you want, pick up an available task, complete it, and submit; nobody is waiting on you in real time. That's different from remote employment, where you're expected online during business hours. The tradeoff: you're competing with others for available tasks, so an empty queue means there's simply nothing to do until more work is released.

What does Data Science work look like for a Climate Data Scientist?

Tasks here are scoped to Data Science, not generic labeling. As a Climate Data Scientist, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Data Science) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Data Science background, this is likely not the right listing to start with.

What specific skills does this listing call for?

AI Training 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 many hours per week does this role require?

Based on the listing, this role is scoped at about 15 hours per week. Treat this as a real commitment expectation, not a loose estimate.

How much does this specific role pay?

This listing is posted at $50–$60/hr, an hourly rate. The range reflects experience level and negotiated terms, not a placeholder, so where you land in it depends on your background and the assessment. 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 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.

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.

Can I apply from outside Canada or the United Kingdom?

This specific role is open only to people based in Canada and the United Kingdom. If you are somewhere else, applying is unlikely to lead to an offer even if you pass the assessment, because the restriction is usually about where the work can legally be contracted rather than your skills. Read the full description for any tax-residency or right-to-work caveats before you apply, since they can differ by country.

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.