Biology & Biophysics Researcher at Mercor

Biology & Biophysics Researcher | $125–$225/hr | Worldwide Remote | Part-Time (8–20 hrs/week)

Mercor is recruiting a select cohort of accomplished biology and biophysics researchers to help shape the next generation of AI systems for scientific reasoning. You'll work alongside leading AI labs to develop models capable of reasoning at the level of an active researcher — not a textbook — across molecular biology, biophysics, structural biology, immunology, neuroscience, genomics, and related disciplines.

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, requiring a part-time commitment of 8 to 20 hours per week.

What You'll Do

• Author and review challenging biology and biophysics problems used to train and evaluate frontier AI models
• Evaluate model outputs on tasks ranging from mechanism prediction to experimental design to literature interpretation
• Identify failure modes in current models — especially the nuanced errors a working PhD would catch immediately
• Collaborate with a small program team and other senior research contributors

Who We're Looking For

This is not a generalist contributor pool. We're seeking researchers whose CV reflects genuine frontier-level work, such as:

• First-author or co-first-author publications in top journals (Nature, Science, Cell, PNAS, eLife, NEJM, Nature Methods, Nature Medicine, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Communications, or equivalent specialty journals)
• Doctoral or postdoctoral training at a top-20 global institution for life sciences or STEM
• Competitive fellowships such as HHMI, NIH F31/F32/K99, NSF GRFP/PRFB, Damon Runyon, Helen Hay Whitney, Jane Coffin Childs, Searle, Pew, Sloan, Packard, Simons, Fulbright, or equivalent
• Issued patents, spin-out companies, or grants as a named PI or co-PI
• Currently or recently active in a research role: PhD candidate, postdoc, instructor, faculty, principal scientist, or industry researcher

Outstanding senior PhD students and recent graduates with strong publication records are explicitly encouraged to apply — depth of research output matters more than years of experience.

Engagement Details

• Hours: 8–20 hours per week (flexible, part-time)
• Employment: W-2 with Cincinnatus LLC — payroll, benefits, and compliance fully managed
• Compensation: $125–$225/hr, reflecting research seniority and credentials
• Duration: No fixed end date; ongoing as long as the program requires your expertise

About Cincinnatus LLC

Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for contingent and contract-based engagements. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record, providing W-2 employment, payroll, and compliance while placing contributors directly within client teams to work on high-impact initiatives.

Cincinnatus LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process.