Physics PhD Coding Expert at Mercor

Physics PhD Coding Expert | $70/hr | Worldwide Remote | Part-Time Contract (6 Weeks)

Mercor is partnering with leading AI labs to build a cutting-edge benchmark for scientific computing. We are seeking PhD-level physicists with strong coding skills to author original, executable research problems designed to challenge today's most advanced AI models. If you have deep domain expertise and a passion for pushing the boundaries of scientific AI, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What You'll Do

• Source original material from published papers, open datasets, repositories, or self-designed scenarios
• Write rigorous scientific prompts grounded in your source material
• Build grading criteria that precisely define correct solutions
• Calibrate tasks against frontier AI models — a task ships only when strong models fail more often than they succeed

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Applied Physics, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated depth in at least two of the following subdomains: Condensed Matter, Optics, Quantum Information/Computing, Computational Physics, Astrophysics, or Particle Physics
• Working proficiency in Python, R, or another scientific computing language
• Comfortable with Git/GitHub and running code in Docker — authoring follows a pull-request workflow with automated quality checks

Preferred Qualifications

• Publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Prior scientific software development or research engineering experience

Engagement Details

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Commitment: Part-time, 20+ hours per week
• Start Date: Immediate
• Rate: $70/hr

Application Process

1. Submit your resume and application form
2. Complete a 25-minute conversational interview covering your background and experience
3. Receive follow-up within a few days with next steps and onboarding details

Apply today and put your research expertise to work shaping the next generation of scientific AI.