Research Operations & Admin Expert at Mercor

Research Operations & Administration Expert | $45–65/hr | Worldwide Remote

Mercor is partnering with leading AI labs on Project Atlas — an initiative to build realistic enterprise environments where frontier AI agents are trained and evaluated. We're seeking seasoned research operations and administration professionals from top R1 universities, academic medical centers, NIH/federal agencies, and large nonprofit research organizations to help design these high-fidelity digital workspaces and the tasks that challenge state-of-the-art AI systems.

What You'll Do

• Build realistic digital workspaces modeled on your day-to-day tools — including grant proposals, budgets, IRB/IACUC protocols, post-award financial reports, effort certifications, compliance records, and email workflows
• Incorporate representations of platforms you use regularly, such as SharePoint, Box, DocuSign, and ADP Workforce Now
• Design multi-step tasks grounded in real research-administration workflows that meaningfully challenge frontier AI agents
• Collaborate asynchronously with other research-operations experts to refine task designs, evaluate scenarios for realism, and develop benchmarking criteria
• Directly contribute to how leading AI labs train and evaluate the next generation of AI systems

Ideal Qualifications

• 3+ years of full-time experience at a top R1 university, academic medical center, federal research agency, or large research nonprofit
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas:
  • Pre-award grants management (NIH, NSF, DOE, DoD, or foundation grants)
  • Post-award financial and compliance management (Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200, FFR/RPPR)
  • Sponsored-programs administration or contract negotiation
  • Research compliance (IRB, IACUC, IBC, COI, export control)
  • Core-facility or shared-resource operations
• Certifications a plus: CRA, CPRA, or CFRA
• Proficiency with SharePoint/Box, DocuSign, Mendeley/EndNote, and ADP Workforce Now/UKG Pro
• Strong analytical and writing skills — able to translate complex workflows into structured task specifications

Compensation

This role begins at an hourly rate of $45–$65/hr and is expected to transition to a throughput-based compensation model rewarding quality output.

About Mercor

Mercor is a talent marketplace connecting top domain experts with leading AI labs and research organizations. Backed by Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D'Angelo, and Jack Dorsey, Mercor supports thousands of professionals contributing to projects that shape the future of AI.