Particle & Nuclear Physics Expert
Mercor • Remote
Education
Any
Type
hourly
Pay Rate (by country)
$70–$100/hr
Listed
51d ago
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What We Know About This Role
- Weekly hours
- 15–20 hrs/week
About this Role
From the Mercor listing
We're building a large-scale benchmark to test how well advanced AI systems can solve hard scientific and engineering problems. As a task designer, you'll create challenging computational problems that check whether AI can use real scientific software to do research-level work — running simulations, interpreting results, designing experiments, and uncovering hidden information from data.
This isn't a typical data-labeling job. You'll design original, graduate-level problems based on real scientific workflows, test them against cutting-edge AI models, and fine-tune them until the difficulty is just right.
About the Project
We're building a large-scale benchmark to test how well advanced AI systems can solve hard scientific and engineering problems. As a task designer, you'll create challenging computational problems that check whether AI can use real scientific software to do research-level work — running simulations, interpreting results, designing experiments, and uncovering hidden information from data. This isn't a typical data-labeling job. You'll design original, graduate-level problems based on real scientific workflows, test them against cutting-edge AI models, and fine-tune them until the difficulty is just right.
What You'll Do
You'll create problems that require skilled use of specialized scientific software. Some will ask the AI to compute exact answers from a fully defined setup — testing whether it can correctly carry out complex, multi-step workflows. Others will be harder: the AI must plan a series of queries or experiments to uncover information that isn't directly visible, which means thinking strategically about what to measure, how to read partial results, and how to narrow down the possibilities efficiently. Each problem goes through a testing loop against state-of-the-art AI models, and you'll refine it until it hits the target difficulty.
Domains & Tools We're Hiring For
We're especially interested in experts with deep, hands-on experience in: Particle & Nuclear Physics — working with scikit-hep and related HEP Python tools for particle physics data analysis, cross-section computations, renormalization group calculations, and perturbative QCD. Experience with Monte Carlo event generation or collider phenomenology is a plus. Experience with other specialized software in this domain will also be considered.
What Makes a Strong Candidate
You have graduate-level expertise (MS or PhD preferred) in the domain above, with real hands-on experience using these tools — not just theoretical knowledge. You've written code using these libraries to solve actual research problems, and you understand where they break, what their edge cases are, and what makes a problem genuinely hard rather than just complicated. Beyond domain expertise, the best candidates think like puzzle designers: building problems where the challenge comes from smart reasoning rather than raw computation, where several approaches seem plausible but only careful analysis reveals the right one, and where surface-level pattern matching won't get you to the answer.
Requirements
Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience) Proven proficiency with at least one of the listed scientific software libraries, shown through research publications, open-source contributions, or professional work Strong Python skills — you'll be writing problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback Comfortable working in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes Available for at least 15–20 hours per week
- Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience)
- Proven proficiency with at least one of the listed scientific software libraries, shown through research publications, open-source contributions, or professional work
- Strong Python skills — you'll be writing problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators
- Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback
- Comfortable working in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes
- Available for at least 15–20 hours per week
Nice to Have
Experience across multiple listed domains or tools Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design Background in scientific teaching or exam/problem-set design Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments Please note: This application includes a coding assessment as part of the evaluation process. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.
- Experience across multiple listed domains or tools
- Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design
- Background in scientific teaching or exam/problem-set design
- Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments
Requirements
- Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience)
- Proven proficiency with at least one of the listed scientific software libraries, shown through research publications, open-source contributions, or professional work
- Strong Python skills — you'll be writing problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators
- Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback
- Comfortable working in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes
- Available for at least 15–20 hours per week
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
Why This Role
We're building a large-scale benchmark to test how well advanced AI systems can solve hard scientific and engineering problems. As a task designer, you'll create challenging computational problems that check whether AI can use real scientific software to do research-level work — running simulations, interpreting results, designing experiments, and
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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.
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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 Particle & Nuclear Physics Expert?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Particle & Nuclear Physics 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.
How many hours per week does this role require?
Based on the listing, this role is scoped at 15–20 hours per week. Treat this as a real commitment expectation, not a loose estimate.
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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.