Bilingual Japanese STEM Expert (PhD) at Mercor

Bilingual Japanese STEM Expert (PhD) — AI Safety | $68–72/hr | Remote (East Asia Preferred)

Mercor is seeking PhD-level scientists with native or near-native Japanese fluency to help make cutting-edge AI models safer and more reliable. In this role, you'll apply your deep scientific expertise to evaluate and improve how AI systems handle specialized technical content in Japanese. No prior AI or machine learning experience is needed — full workflow training is provided.

What You'll Do

• Write expert-level scientific prompts in Japanese across chemistry, biology, and related STEM disciplines.
• Evaluate and annotate AI model responses for scientific accuracy, helpfulness, and responsible handling of sensitive or dual-use content.
• Apply structured guidelines to classify prompts and multi-turn conversations.

What We're Looking For

• A PhD (completed or in progress) in chemistry, biology, or a closely related field, with the depth to cover chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear subject areas.
• Native or near-native fluency in Japanese, along with business-level written English.
• Strong familiarity with modern laboratory and computational techniques in your subfield.
• Sound judgment regarding scientific safety and the responsible handling of dual-use information.

Nice to Have

• Based in Japan or the broader East Asia region (preferred, not required).
• Background in radiochemistry, nuclear chemistry, energetic materials, or radiation physics.
• Demonstrated depth in a specific subfield such as organic/inorganic synthesis, molecular biology, microbiology, virology, or genetics.
• Research or coursework in chemical safety, biosafety, biosecurity, or hazardous materials handling.
• Experience reviewing, grading, or red-teaming technical content.

Project Details

• Start Date: Immediate
• Commitment: Part-time, contractor basis
• Rate: $68–$72/hr

This is a meaningful opportunity to apply your scientific expertise toward responsible AI development. Applicants from all regions are welcome to apply.