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STEM mercor

Molecular Biology Experts

Mercor • Remote, United Kingdom

Education

PhD

Type

Hourly

Pay Rate

$70–$105/hr

Listed

95d ago

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What We Know About This Role

Weekly hours
0–40 hrs/week

About this role

From the Mercor listing

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team to be at the core of the AI revolution, where your expertise fuels the development of the most advanced models for science.

1. Overview

A leading AI lab is building models that reason across the life sciences, and we're assembling a small cohort of molecular biologists to elevate the quality of the training data. The focus is the design of DNA and RNA sequences — the work a molecular biologist does prior to conducting experiments — including primers, plasmids, guide RNAs, mRNA constructs, and repair templates. This is a part-time to full-time commitment of up to 40 hours per week, fully remote within the United Kingdom.

2. What you'll do

  • Design and review DNA/RNA sequences and constructs — primers (PCR/qPCR/cloning), plasmids and expression vectors, gRNA/sgRNA for CRISPR editing, mRNA/RNA constructs, and HDR/repair templates — drawn from your professional experience.

  • Author challenging, domain-grounded design tasks and write accurate, well-documented solutions that serve as ground truth.

  • Evaluate AI model outputs against expert-quality solutions and provide clear, written feedback on correctness, rigor, and biological reasoning.

  • Justify design choices at the sequence level — guide/target selection, homology-arm length, primer melting temperature and specificity, codon optimization, and regulatory elements.

  • Collaborate with other subject-matter experts to keep the training data consistent and accurate.

3. Who we're looking for

  • A practicing (or recently practicing) molecular biologist with hands-on experience designing nucleic-acid constructs prior to experiments — across several of primers, plasmids/vectors, gRNA/sgRNA, mRNA, and HDR/repair templates — together with cloning strategy (Gibson, Golden Gate, Gateway, restriction) and codon optimization.

  • A strong peer-reviewed publication record is a key measure of expertise — first-author work in notable venues such as Nature (and the Nature family), Cell, eLife, Nucleic Acids Research, PNAS, and EMBO Journal is especially valued. Please include publication links with your application.

  • An advanced degree (PhD strongly preferred) in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, synthetic biology, bioengineering, or a related life-science field.

  • Strong written communication and the ability to justify design choices clearly and rigorously.

4. Scope

  • The program is onboarding a small cohort of experts to design and evaluate nucleic-acid sequence tasks, with strong potential to extend for well-performing contributors.

  • Fast start — the program is aiming to begin as soon as onboarding is complete.

Requirements

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

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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Why this role

$70–$105/hr for Molecular Biology Experts work puts your STEM expertise on the same footing as an AI lab's own research staff, without the overhead of running a consulting practice around it.

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.

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Skills and categories

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Common 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.

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 a Molecular Biology Experts?

Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Molecular Biology Experts, 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?

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 many hours per week does this role require?

Based on the listing, this role is scoped at about 40 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 $70–$105/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 the United Kingdom?

This specific role is open only to people based in 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.

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.