PhD Student / Graduate - AI Dataset Development at Mercor

PhD AI Dataset Contributor | $40–45/hr | Remote Worldwide

Mercor is partnering with a leading AI lab to develop large-scale supervised fine-tuning datasets for next-generation language models. We're seeking PhD graduates from humanities and social sciences to contribute high-quality prompt and response data for foundational AI research on flexible, long-term contract terms.

Key Responsibilities

• Create original prompts reflecting realistic human inquiry across generalist topics
• Review and revise model-generated responses for factuality, clarity, and alignment with expert expectations
• Write human-authored "gold" responses for complex or nuanced prompts
• Generate subtle prompt variations to train models on fine-grained reasoning differences
• Evaluate outputs across different response lengths, styles, and personas
• Apply domain expertise to identify model limitations and edge-case failures

Ideal Qualifications

• PhD in humanities or social sciences (English, Philosophy, Linguistics, History, etc.)
• Strong analytical reading and writing skills
• Experience with critical reasoning, synthesis, or academic writing
• Meticulous attention to language, clarity, and conceptual nuance
• Comfort working independently and evaluating nuanced differences in written responses

Opportunity Details

• Fully remote and asynchronous—set your own schedule
• Expected commitment: 10–30 hours per week
• Multi-month project duration with potential for extensions
• Independent contractor role with Mercor platform support

Compensation

• $40–45 per hour based on experience
• Paid weekly via Stripe Connect
• Independent contractor classification

Application Process

Submit your resume to begin. You'll complete a short form about your academic background and writing expertise. Selected candidates will be invited to complete a sample qualification task. We respond within a few days of submission.

About Mercor

Mercor is a talent marketplace connecting top experts with leading AI labs and research organizations. Backed by Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey, thousands of professionals across law, creative fields, engineering, and research work on frontier AI projects through our platform.