Biology Expert (PhD) — AI Safety at Mercor

Biology 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