Computational Chemistry Researcher (Task Author)
Listing checked October 16, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Overview
AfterQuery recruits computational chemistry researchers to author evaluation tasks that test AI models on real scientific computing problems. You pick a calculation from your own work, such as an electronic-structure workflow, a molecular-dynamics run, a kinetics model, a spectroscopy fit, or a thermodynamics calculation, and shape it into a research-grade task. Each task contains a main problem, connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that verify results. The challenge should come from the chemistry itself, not from hidden information. This independent-contractor role pays $200 per approved task, with each task taking about two hours and no cap on volume.
What You'll Do6
- 1Turn a calculation from your own research into an original evaluation task with a main problem and a few connected subproblems.
- 2Write a Python reference solution and tests that check the expected result.
- 3Set the metrics that define a strong solution, while keeping exact passing thresholds out of the public task.
- 4Use review feedback to revise tasks until they pass approval.
- 5Review and calibrate tasks from other domain experts when you choose to take on that work.
- 6Ground each task in a specific area such as quantum chemistry, molecular simulation, chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, catalysis, or chemical thermodynamics.
Requirements11
- 1Bachelor's student on a research track, Master's or PhD student, postdoc, or recent graduate in chemistry, chemical physics, chemical engineering, or a related field.
- 2Research experience through an REU, thesis, RA role, or lab position for Bachelor's candidates.
- 3Hands-on code you wrote yourself, with Python as the common language, to set up, run, and analyze chemical calculations or models.
- 4Ability to convert your computational research into a well-specified task with a reference solution and tests.
- 5Comfort managing your own time in a flexible, task-based arrangement with no fixed weekly schedule.
- 6Background in chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, or catalysis modeling is a plus.
- 7Public code, a thesis, or papers that show your computational work are a plus.
- 8Prior data annotation, data labeling, or AI/ML evaluation work is a plus.
- 9Must work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship. Students on F-1 visas, including OPT and CPT, do not qualify.
- 10All accepted experts complete standard background and identity verification.
- 11Experience limited to running standard packages like Gaussian or VASP without your own scripting does not meet the technical bar.
Who Should Apply
Researchers in chemistry, chemical physics, or chemical engineering who write their own Python code for calculations and want flexible, task-based independent contractor work. Candidates may be research-track Bachelor's students, Master's or PhD students, postdocs, or recent graduates. Experience with kinetics, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, or catalysis modeling strengthens an application.
Salary Insight
The listing states $100 per hour, and AfterQuery pays $200 for each approved task that takes about two hours. That rate matches the upper range for independent expert task authoring in computational chemistry. You can take on as many tasks as you want, so total earnings stay open.
Location
Compensation
$100/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Send a link to Python code you wrote for a chemistry calculation, and outline one calculation from your research that could become a task, such as a kinetics model or a spectroscopy fit. Include your institution, degree program, year, field, and work authorization status. State in your note that you can work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship, because F-1 OPT and CPT candidates do not qualify.
How NearSkill helps you apply
1. Check your job match
We compare your resume with the job requirements to help you understand how well your experience fits.
2. Continue to the employer’s website
We’ll direct you to the employer’s application portal, where you can complete the application.
3. Get updates by email
If NearSkill is handling follow-up for this role, we’ll email you when there’s an update on your screening.
Want to check your fit first?
See how your resume matches this role before applying.
Check my job matchSimilar open positions
Explore active roles that match your skills and interests.
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Materials Science Researcher (Task Author)
AfterQuery seeks researchers to craft evaluation tasks for AI models based on their own computational materials science work. You'll design problems from simulations or analyses you've already run, like phase-field or CALPHAD models, atomistic simulations, or transport calculations. Each task includes a main problem, subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests. The role is flexible and task-based, paying $200 per approved task (about two hours each).
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Physics & Astrophysics Researcher (Task Author)
AfterQuery connects physics researchers with paid work authoring evaluation tasks that test AI models on real scientific computing. A task comes from work you have already run and debugged, such as a simulation, a numerical solver, a data-reduction pipeline, or a model fit. Each task contains a main problem, connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that check the outcome. The physics creates the difficulty, not missing information. Approved tasks pay $200 each, take about two hours, and have no cap on how many you accept.
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Research Task Author
AfterQuery builds a bench of researchers who turn their own computational science into evaluation tasks for AI models. You would take a simulation, solver, fitting routine, data-reduction step, or analysis pipeline you have run and shape it into a research-grade problem with subproblems, a reference answer, and tests that check the scientific result. Python serves as the working language, and the scientific depth should come from your domain, whether that means bioinformatics, quantum chemistry, computational astrophysics, or another computational field. Reviewers give structured feedback, and you revise until the task passes approval. The work is task-based, with no fixed hours each week.
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Engineering Researcher (Task Author)
AfterQuery is assembling a network of engineering researchers who turn their own computational work into evaluation tasks for AI models. You might build a task from a finite-element solver, a CFD model, a reaction-engineering simulation, a physiological model, or a structural or electromagnetic study you wrote and validated. Each task pairs a main problem with linked subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that check results. The engineering science supplies the difficulty, not hidden information. Work happens on your own schedule, and accepted tasks pay $200 each, with each task taking about 2 hours.
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Biology & Bioinformatics Researcher (Task Author)
AfterQuery builds a network of scientific researchers who create evaluation tasks for AI models. The work starts with a real computational project from your own biology research, such as an analysis pipeline, a dynamical model, a structural simulation, or a statistical inference method you wrote and debugged. You turn that project into a main problem, connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that return a clear result. The role suits computational biology and bioinformatics researchers who want flexible, task-based contract work. Pay comes as $200 per approved task, with each task taking about two hours and no cap on volume.
AfterQuery
VerifiedComputational Mathematics Researcher (Task Author)
AfterQuery builds a network of researchers who turn real computational math into evaluation tasks for AI models. You would take a numerical solver, optimization routine, simulation, or statistical model from your own work and shape it into a main problem, connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests. Difficulty should come from the mathematics, not from hidden information. Tasks go through review, and you can also calibrate tasks from other experts. Numerical analysis, optimization, and stochastic processes are some of the areas in demand.