Theoretical Physicist - Fully Remote | Up to $110/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: Mathematical Physicist (PhD)

Type: Contract

Compensation: $80–$110/hour

Location: Remote

Duration: 8 to 10 weeks

Commitment: 10 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and solve research-level physics problems in your subfield. Ensure solutions are complete for independent verification.
• Review and audit completed work, maintaining high standards of written reasoning akin to mathematics.
• Collaborate with peers to create problems and evaluate AI model performance in physics research reasoning.
• Utilize Python , SymPy , and Jupyter for symbolic computation. Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code is useful.
• Work independently and asynchronously to meet deadlines and improve AI model performance .

Qualifications

Must-Have

• PhD in mathematical physics, theoretical physics, or mathematics .
• Published work on specific phenomena in your subfield.
• Verifiable publication record with three to five representative papers.
• Working proficiency with LaTeX , Python , SymPy , and Jupyter .
• English at B2 or above , including written reasoning.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

• Apply and complete the attached form with basic information, education, and research experience.
• Provide up to five areas you are the best fit for, with proof of your work.
• We verify your papers and authorship against the public record.
• Onboard directly or participate in a short live alignment call.
• A brief 30 to 45 minute assessment may be added if needed.

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check:
• For any help or support, reach out to: [email protected]

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.