Ph.D./Researcher Workflow
Turing • Remote
Education
Any
Type
hourly
Pay Rate (by country)
$30–$70/hr
Listed
55d ago
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What We Know About This Role
- Weekly hours
- 40 hrs/week
- Timezone overlap
- Partial overlap with US Pacific time required
About this Role
From the Turing listing
About Turing
Based in San Francisco, California, Turing is the world's leading research accelerator for frontier AI labs and a trusted partner for global enterprises deploying advanced AI systems. Turing supports customers in two ways: first, by accelerating frontier research with high-quality data, advanced training pipelines, and top AI researchers who specialize in coding, reasoning, STEM, multilinguality, multimodality, and agents; and second, by applying that expertise to help enterprises transform AI from proof of concept into proprietary intelligence with systems that perform reliably, deliver measurable impact, and produce lasting results on the P&L.
Role Overview
In this role, you will work on projects that improve and evaluate large language models by crafting challenging, competition-level mathematics problems and rigorously assessing model reasoning. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in competitive mathematics at the AIME, HMMT, and IMO (Olympiad) level across the four classic pillars: Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometry. You should be able to design novel, "Google-proof" problems intended to expose deep reasoning deficiencies in state-of-the-art models, and to diagnose precisely where and why a model's reasoning breaks down. The role combines original problem authoring, rigorous solution writing, and detailed evaluation of model-generated responses. This is your chance to future-proof your career in an AI-first world by working at the frontier of mathematical reasoning evaluation.
What does the day-to-day look like:
Design original, challenging mathematics problems at AIME, HMMT, and IMO difficulty that test the reasoning limits of large language models in multi-step, abstract settings, drawn strictly from Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, or Geometry. Author novel prompts that "break" evaluated models, meaning the model arrives at an incorrect final answer; ensure problems cannot be bypassed via brute-force or computationally intensive methods. Solve problems independently and write detailed, logically structured, self-contained solutions with clear justifications, properly rendered in LaTeX. Review model-generated solutions, identify mathematical errors, logical fallacies, or missing arguments, and diagnose the root cause using defined failure categories (Final Answer, Reasoning Steps, Instruction Following). Contribute to defining new evaluation benchmarks across competition and Olympiad-level mathematics curricula. Classify each prompt accurately by domain, sub-domain, topic, and proficiency level within the labeling tool.
Requirements
Mathematical Expertise: Strong command of competitive mathematics at the level of AIME, HMMT, and IMO across Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Geometry. Writing Proficiency: Excellent structured written communication, including fluency with standard LaTeX delimiters for all mathematical expressions. Analytical Skills: Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to construct rigorous, proof-based reasoning. Creative Thinking: Creative and lateral thinking abilities to design novel problems that are not adapted from existing competitions or online repositories. Feedback Skills: Ability to provide constructive feedback, precise annotations, and accurate error diagnosis on model outputs. Independence: Self-motivated and able to work independently in a remote setting. Technical Setup: Desktop/Laptop setup with a good internet connection.
Preferred Qualifications
Candidates pursuing or holding a Bachelor’s/Master's degree in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field are eligible and encouraged to apply. Prior experience in competitive mathematics (e.g., national or international Olympiads or equivalent competitive examinations) as a participant, coach, or problem setter is a bonus. Ability to analyze and solve complex problems with a structured, logical approach and to express solutions clearly and rigorously.
Perks of Freelancing With Turing
Work in a fully remote environment. Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI projects with leading LLM companies. Potential for contract extension based on performance and project needs.
Offer Details
Commitments Required: At least 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week, with 4 hours of overlap with PST. Engagement type: Contractor assignment/freelancer (no medical/paid leave).
Requirements
- Applied Mathematics
- Must be eligible to work in Remote
Why This Role
No office, no fixed hours, no relocation. This Ph.D./Researcher Workflow role pays $50/hr fully remote, giving you access to Generalist work that would otherwise be limited to a handful of major cities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a software engineer to work for Turing?
No, not anymore. Turing built its name matching senior engineers with Silicon Valley companies, but it has since expanded into AGI infrastructure work and now hires non-engineering domain experts, technical writers, and researchers for post-training data annotation and RLHF. A strong analytical background and excellent English matter more than coding ability.
How does Turing's talent matching work?
Turing calls it the Intelligent Talent Cloud. You build a profile and go through vetting (automated tests, an AI-powered interview, practical skill assessments), and once vetted, Turing's algorithm surfaces your profile directly to partner companies like Fortune 500s and top AI labs. You don't browse listings or bid on work; matches come to you.
How and when does Turing pay contractors?
Monthly, in USD, via Deel, Payoneer, or direct bank transfer. You're engaged as an independent contractor responsible for your own local taxes. Plan your cash flow around a monthly cycle if you're used to weekly payouts elsewhere.
What does task-based AI training work actually look like?
Practical, hands-on data work: recording short videos, categorizing images, rating text responses, or analyzing data. Tasks are designed to be short and distinct, typically 5 to 60 minutes each.
What does asynchronous AI training work mean in practice?
No set hours, no check-ins, no meetings. You log in when you want, pick up an available task, complete it, and submit; nobody is waiting on you in real time. That's different from remote employment, where you're expected online during business hours. The tradeoff: you're competing with others for available tasks, so an empty queue means there's simply nothing to do until more work is released.
What does Generalist work look like for a Ph.D./Researcher Workflow?
Tasks here are scoped to Generalist, not generic labeling. As a Ph.D./Researcher Workflow, expect to draw on real domain judgment (evaluating outputs, correcting errors, or providing expert reasoning specific to Generalist) rather than following a one-size-fits-all rubric. If you don't have hands-on Generalist 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 40 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 Turing'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.