Physics Expert (Professor / Principal Investigator)
Micro1 • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay Rate
$80–$160/hr
Actively Hiring
6 openings
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From the Micro1 listing
Role Title: Physics Expert (Professor / Principal Investigator) Role Type: Contractor. Location: Remote micro1 is engaging Physics Experts—established Professors or Principal Investigators—to provide high-level domain guidance as part of an impactful project for a customer. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters. Scope of Work
- Adjudicate and render expert judgment on contested or competing physics arguments, solutions, or interpretations within your subfield.
- Compare alternative approaches to the same problem, detailing which is superior, under what assumptions, and in which regimes.
- Identify and articulate meta-level criteria for evaluating the robustness and validity of competing physics work, such as key assumptions and breaking points of approximations.
- Exercise calibrated confidence by providing authoritative assessments while transparently acknowledging genuine uncertainty or open questions in the field.
- Draft defensible written evaluations suitable for review by fellow senior physicists, ensuring clarity and rigor.
- Leverage technical tools such as LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter to verify or contrast technical claims as needed.
- Clearly communicate when a question is unresolved within the field and delineate the pertinent considerations. Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in physics with demonstrated expertise and scholarly impact in your specified subfield.
- Current or former Associate Professor, Full Professor, Chair Professor, or Principal Investigator/Group Leader with a track record of independent research leadership.
- Ongoing research activity in one or more of these areas: High Energy Physics, Mathematical Physics, Biophysics, Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter, AMO/Quantum Optics, Gravitation, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Quantum Information, or Optical Properties of Materials.
- 3–5 recent representative publications in your target subfield, with arXiv or DOI references.
- Prior experience supervising PhD students or postdocs, or equivalent leadership in industry research settings.
- Proficiency with LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter (please indicate any gaps in experience with these tools).
- Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to articulate nuanced and well-reasoned judgments.
Requirements
- Physics Mastery
- Expert Judgment in Ambiguous Cases
- Meta-Level Reasoning
- Research Leadership
- Defensible Written Articulation
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
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.
Key responsibilities
- Adjudicate and render expert judgment on contested or competing physics arguments, solutions, or interpretations within your subfield.
- Compare alternative approaches to the same problem, detailing which is superior, under what assumptions, and in which regimes.
- Identify and articulate meta-level criteria for evaluating the robustness and validity of competing physics work, such as key assumptions and breaking points of approximations.
- Exercise calibrated confidence by providing authoritative assessments while transparently acknowledging genuine uncertainty or open questions in the field.
Why this role
Micro1's Physics Expert role for Professors and Principal Investigators pays $80-$160 per hour for established researchers providing high-level domain guidance. The project draws on expert judgment in ambiguous cases and meta-level reasoning, the kind of call only someone with research leadership experience can make confidently. Written articulation has to be defensible enough to stand up to expert scrutiny.
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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Common questions
What does the Micro1 application process look like?
Expect a screening interview with Zara, Micro1's AI recruiter. Prepare for it like a real video call: good lighting, clear audio, verbal answers to technical questions. A human manager reviews the recording afterward, and some roles add a short skills assessment on top.
Can I apply to Micro1 from outside the US or UK?
Yes. Micro1 accepts applicants from most countries worldwide, unlike DataAnnotation or Outlier, both of which cap access to a handful of English-speaking countries. Most roles still require strong written and spoken English.
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 STEM work look like for a Physics Expert (Professor / Principal Investigator) ?
Tasks here are scoped to STEM, not generic labeling. As a Physics Expert (Professor / Principal Investigator) , 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?
Physics Mastery, Expert Judgment in Ambiguous Cases, Meta-Level Reasoning, and Research Leadership 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.
What does the 'openings' count on this listing mean?
It's Micro1's live count of how many candidates it's still trying to place for this specific role, 6 right now, not a countdown on your individual application. A higher number signals more active demand; it doesn't lower the bar for acceptance.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $80–$160/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 Micro1'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.