Posted over 30 days ago. Roles like this often stay open for a while, so it's still worth applying.
Biology Expert (PhD) — AI Safety at Mercor
posted 4 months agoBiology Expert (PhD) — AI Safety | $65–70/hr | Remote (US) | Part-Time
Mercor is seeking PhD-level biologists to help improve the safety and accuracy of advanced AI models. In this role, you'll apply your deep scientific expertise to evaluate how AI systems handle complex life-science topics — no prior AI or machine learning experience required. Full workflow training is provided.
What You'll Do
- Write expert-level prompts spanning specialized life-science domains.
- Evaluate and annotate AI model responses for scientific accuracy, helpfulness, and responsible handling of sensitive content.
- Apply structured guidelines to classify prompts and multi-turn conversations.
What We're Looking For
- A PhD in biology or a closely related life-science field — ongoing or completed (e.g., molecular biology, microbiology, virology, genetics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, or immunology).
- Deep familiarity with modern laboratory and/or computational techniques in your subfield.
- Strong scientific reasoning and professional writing skills in English.
- Sound judgment regarding biosecurity and the responsible handling of dual-use information.
Nice to Have
- Research or coursework in biosafety/biosecurity, pathogen biology, or gain-of-function considerations.
- Experience reviewing, grading, or red-teaming technical content.
Project Details
- Start Date: Immediate
- Commitment: Part-time, 15–25 hours/week (flexibility up to 40 hours/week)
- Rate: $65–$70/hr
How to apply for this role
- Upload your resume — keep it up-to-date and in English. Mercor will auto-fill your profile from it.
- Complete the AI interview — a 15-minute conversation about your experience. Be ready to discuss specific projects and challenges you've solved.
- Submit your application — only about 20% of applicants finish all the steps, so completing yours puts you well ahead.