Quantum Information Science Physicist (PhD) at Mercor

Quantum Information Science Physicist (PhD) | $80-110/hr | Remote

About the work

CritPt is a public benchmark of research-level physics challenges testing whether frontier AI models can do genuine physics research reasoning rather than textbook problem solving. The benchmark paper is arXiv:2509.26574 and reading it before applying is recommended. Physicists work on research-level problems in their own subfield: creating problems, solving them, reviewing completed work, or auditing it. The specific assignment is agreed once you are matched to an area.

This is research-grade work. Everything you produce must be complete enough for another specialist in your subfield to follow and verify independently, so written reasoning is part of every assignment.

Research areas (matched narrowly)

You must have published on one of these specific phenomena, not in quantum information broadly:

• Distributed quantum sensing and metrology with GHZ probes under noise
• Quantum optics: two-mode squeezing, SU(1,1) interferometry, homodyne detection with loss
• Quantum Shannon theory: Holevo and accessible information, classical capacity
• Holographic codes and random tensor networks, Haar averaging over O(N)
• Matrix product states, sequential generation, holographic quantum simulation
• Eigenstate-to-Hamiltonian construction, commutant algebras, integrals of motion
• Quantum-limited imaging and superresolution: QFI, spatial-mode demultiplexing
• Quantum walks and spatial search on graphs, degenerate perturbation theory
• Quantum foundations: higher-order interference, Sorkin parameter, GPTs as information resource
• Quantum foundations: generalized noncontextuality, KCBS, ontological models
• Quantum Shannon theory: private states, quantum and private capacity, superactivation
• Quantum relative entropy, strong data processing, contraction coefficients of qubit channels

Who we are looking for

• A PhD in quantum information, quantum optics or a closely related field (hard requirement). Postdocs, research scientists and junior faculty are the strongest fit; senior PhD students with a strong first-author record are welcome.
• Published work on the specific phenomenon above, not the adjacent one. This is the most common reason otherwise excellent physicists are declined.
• A verifiable publication record: three to five representative papers with arXiv IDs or DOIs, ideally from the last five years, first author preferred. Every paper will be checked against the public record.
• Working proficiency with LaTeX, Python, SymPy and Jupyter. Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code is useful. Gaps are acceptable if declared honestly.
• English at B2 or above, including written reasoning.

Each area requires specific methods (e.g. quantum Fisher information, Lindblad master equations, Weingarten calculus, matrix product states, convex optimization). You should be able to point to your own papers demonstrating at least one relevant method family: entropic and information-theoretic, open quantum systems, random matrix and Haar integration, tensor network, convex and geometric, or estimation theory.

Application steps

• Apply and complete the attached form, including up to five areas you fit best, each with an arXiv ID or DOI of your own paper as proof, your author position and the methods it demonstrates.
• Your papers and authorship are verified against the public record.
• You are either onboarded directly or invited to a short live alignment call to agree the area and assignment. A brief 30-45 minute assessment may be added only where needed; most applicants will not see one.

Commitment and rate

10 hours per week over an 8 to 10 week window, starting immediately. Remote and asynchronous with no fixed hours. $80-110 per hour, set by depth of subdomain match.