Astrophysics Researcher - Fully Remote | Upto $100/hr

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark , General Catalyst , Peter Thiel , Adam D'Angelo , Larry Summers , and Jack Dorsey . Position: Astrophysics & Cosmology Expert Type: Contract Compensation: $70–$100/hour Location: Remote Commitment: 15–20 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Design challenging computational problems to test AI systems using real scientific software.


• Develop problems requiring strategic planning and multi-step workflows for AI to uncover hidden data.


• Refine problems through iterative testing against state-of-the-art AI models.


• Utilize astropy and related tools for cosmological calculations and data analysis.


• Work independently to enhance problem designs based on feedback.


• Collaborate asynchronously with teams to ensure problem difficulty is optimal.

Qualifications

• Must-Have: Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field ( MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience ).


• Must-Have: Proven proficiency with scientific software libraries through research publications or professional work.


• Must-Have: Strong Python skills for writing problem setups and solution validators.


• Must-Have: Comfortable in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes.


• Must-Have: Available for at least 15–20 hours per week.


• Preferred: Experience across multiple domains or tools.


• Preferred: Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design.


• Preferred: Background in scientific teaching or exam/problem-set design.


• Preferred: Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments.