Physics PhD (Top 50 Program, US/UK/CA)
Mercor • Remote, Canada, United Kingdom, United States
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$70–$180/hr
Listed
95d ago
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- 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
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.
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.
Set up your profile →Why this role
At $70–$180/hr, this Physics PhD (Top 50 Program, US/UK/CA) position compensates Mathematics expertise on its own terms, the kind of rate that would otherwise only show up inside a law firm, hospital, or research lab.
Talent pool
We're light on Mathematics candidates
We've matched 65 people with a Mathematics background against 726 Mathematics 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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Common questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Expert and PhD are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening process to test for them 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 $70–$180/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, the United Kingdom, or the United States?
This specific role is open only to people based in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 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.