Physics PhD (Top 50 Program, US/UK/CA)
Mercor • Remote, Canada, UK, USA
Education
Any
Type
hourly
Pay Rate (by country)
$70–$180/hr
Listed
30d 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 collaborating with a leading AI research group to engage experts with advanced training in physics. PhD graduates in Physics from a US/UK/CA top 50 pure physics program are encouraged to participate. This cutting-edge project focuses on strengthening AI systems’ reasoning capabilities through rigorous problem-solving and theorem-based evaluation. You will be applying graduate-level expertise to assess and validate complex mathematical reasoning.
• Solve and evaluate challenging physics problems across a range of subfields
Role Overview
Mercor is collaborating with a leading AI research group to engage experts with advanced training in physics. PhD graduates in Physics from a US/UK/CA top 50 pure physics program are encouraged to participate. This cutting-edge project focuses on strengthening AI systems’ reasoning capabilities through rigorous problem-solving and theorem-based evaluation. You will be applying graduate-level expertise to assess and validate complex mathematical reasoning.
Key Responsibilities
Solve and evaluate challenging physics problems across a range of subfields Review AI-generated proofs, derivations, and solutions for correctness, rigor, and clarity Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or unsupported reasoning in model outputs Apply relevant citations, principles, and formal reasoning where appropriate
- Solve and evaluate challenging physics problems across a range of subfields
- Review AI-generated proofs, derivations, and solutions for correctness, rigor, and clarity
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or unsupported reasoning in model outputs
- Apply relevant citations, principles, and formal reasoning where appropriate
Ideal Qualifications
PhD in Physics from a top 50 physics program in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada Degree must be in Physics rather than applied physics, engineering, or a closely related applied discipline Strong graduate-level problem-solving ability across advanced physics topics Ability to clearly articulate reasoning, reference relevant theorems or principles, and identify gaps in written solutions Ideally active in research or academia Able to commit approximately 15 hours per week Able to complete assigned tasks in a single sitting within 24 hours when work is available Available to begin immediately
- PhD in Physics from a top 50 physics program in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada
- Degree must be in Physics rather than applied physics, engineering, or a closely related applied discipline
- Strong graduate-level problem-solving ability across advanced physics topics
- Ability to clearly articulate reasoning, reference relevant theorems or principles, and identify gaps in written solutions
- Ideally active in research or academia
- Able to commit approximately 15 hours per week
- Able to complete assigned tasks in a single sitting within 24 hours when work is available
- Available to begin immediately
More About the Opportunity
Work is project-based and delivered in batches There may be periods when no work is available Contributors should be comfortable with variable task volume depending on project needs
- Work is project-based and delivered in batches
- There may be periods when no work is available
- Contributors should be comfortable with variable task volume depending on project needs
Requirements
- PhD in Physics from a top 50 physics program in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada
- Degree must be in Physics rather than applied physics, engineering, or a closely related applied discipline
- Strong graduate-level problem-solving ability across advanced physics topics
- Ability to clearly articulate reasoning, reference relevant theorems or principles, and identify gaps in written solutions
- Ideally active in research or academia
- Able to commit approximately 15 hours per week
- Must be eligible to work in one of: Remote, Canada
Key Responsibilities
- Solve and evaluate challenging physics problems across a range of subfields
- Review AI-generated proofs, derivations, and solutions for correctness, rigor, and clarity
- Identify gaps, inconsistencies, or unsupported reasoning in model outputs
- Apply relevant citations, principles, and formal reasoning where appropriate
Why This Role
Monetize your niche expertise without the billable hours. At $125/hr, this role offers elite compensation for pure intellectual work, no client management or administrative bloat.
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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 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 the day-to-day workload look like for elite-expert AI training roles?
Slow and deep, not fast and repetitive. A single task can take 45-60 minutes of researching citations or verifying complex calculations. Quality is what's being measured here, not throughput.
What does Mathematics work look like for a Physics PhD (Top 50 Program, US/UK/CA)?
Tasks here are scoped to Mathematics, not generic labeling. As a Physics PhD (Top 50 Program, US/UK/CA), expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Mathematics) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Mathematics 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 about 15 hours per week. Treat this as a real commitment expectation, not a loose estimate.
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.
Can I apply from outside Canada, UK, USA?
This specific role is restricted to Canada, UK, USA. If you are outside these locations, applying is unlikely to result in an offer even if you pass the assessment. Check the full job description for any VPN or tax-residency caveats.
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.