Research Physics Expert
Research-level physics role for authoring and verifying golden reference solutions for the CritPt benchmark, a frontier research-level physics benchmark. Applicant pay shown: $80 - $135 / hour.
- Platform
- Mercor
- Fit category
- Research and academia
- Remote/location
- Remote
- Pay
- Firm hourly pay: $80 - $135 / hour
- Eligibility
- Remote; check the work-authorization wording
- Difficulty
- Highly selective
- Listing/source checked
- Jul 2, 2026
- Inventory presence checked
- Aug 15, 2026
- Apply link checked
- Jul 2, 2026
Before you apply
A concise view of the reviewed listing. Confirm current terms and eligibility on the platform before applying.
Why this may be worth checking
- Physics researchers with recent publications
- Postdocs or professors comfortable auditing research-level solutions
What to prepare
- Physics PhD, postdoc, professor, PI, or comparable frontier research background; senior PhD students may fit solver work.
- Hands-on familiarity with methods in relevant physics subfields such as high energy physics, condensed matter, AMO, gravitation/cosmology/astrophysics, quantum information, or statistical physics.
- Prepare publication links, subfield evidence, and examples of Python or symbolic reasoning work.
Reasons to pause
- You need H1-B or STEM OPT support and the live listing still says those candidates are not supported.
- You cannot commit roughly 10 hours/week across the current task window.
What still needs checking
- Review the official Mercor listing before applying. Requirements, screening, pay, hours, and project availability can change.
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Current application
Check the current Mercor listing
Apply on MercorYou'll continue on Mercor's site. This Apply link may be a referral link, and Specialist AI Work may be paid if the platform credits the referral. This does not change the role's advertised pay or how roles are ordered here.
What this role involves
Research-level physics role for authoring and verifying golden reference solutions for the CritPt benchmark, a frontier research-level physics benchmark. The source describes solving problems end-to-end, auditing solutions from other experts, or adjudicating between parallel solution attempts to create human-verified reference data for evaluating large language models on physics reasoning.
Requirements
- Ability to write verifiable derivations, code, references, Python answer templates, and rigorous written feedback.
Best for
- Experts in high energy, condensed matter, AMO, cosmology, quantum information, or related subfields
Skip this if...
- You need guaranteed acceptance, guaranteed work, guaranteed pay, or guaranteed hours.
Application tips
- Do not share confidential employer, client, or research material as application proof.
- Check the current Mercor page before applying because task pools and eligibility can change.