Convection Stability Physicist (PhD)
Listing checked September 25, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
CritPt is a public benchmark of research-level physics problems, and the project tests whether frontier AI models can reason through real physics research rather than textbook exercises. The benchmark paper, arXiv:2509.26574, gives a clear picture of the work, so read it before you apply. Mercor matches physicists to problems in their own subfield, then you agree the assignment, which can mean creating problems, solving them, reviewing completed work, or auditing it. This panel centers on the linear stability of buoyancy-driven convection: Rayleigh-Benard convection with mixed boundary conditions and porous-medium Rayleigh-Darcy convection. The engagement runs 10 hours per week for 8 to 10 weeks, remote and asynchronous, with pay from $80 to $110 per hour.
What You'll Do8
- 1Build research-level physics problems in Rayleigh-Benard or Rayleigh-Darcy convection stability, matching your publication record.
- 2Solve assigned convection stability problems with full derivations, normal-mode expansions, and marginal stability arguments.
- 3Review completed work from other physicists and check the reasoning, boundary conditions, and eigenvalue results.
- 4Audit finished submissions for errors in Boussinesq approximation, Darcy's law, or critical Rayleigh number calculations.
- 5Write reasoning clear enough for another specialist in your subfield to follow and verify without your input.
- 6Use LaTeX, Python, and Jupyter to present derivations, spectra, and numerical checks.
- 7Select your best-fit panel area and provide your own paper as proof with author position and methods.
- 8Agree assignment scope with Mercor after matching to a convection stability area.
Requirements9
- 1PhD in fluid mechanics, applied mathematics, mechanical engineering, or a related field. Hard requirement.
- 2Published work on convection stability itself, not just fluid dynamics. Mercor turns down many strong method users who lack this publication focus.
- 3A verifiable publication record with 3 to 5 representative papers from the last five years, including DOIs or arXiv IDs. Journal DOI expected.
- 4First-author position on those papers preferred.
- 5Demonstrated use of at least one method family: Boussinesq approximation and buoyancy-driven flow, linear stability analysis and normal-mode perturbation expansion, marginal stability analysis and critical Rayleigh number determination, spectral eigenvalue methods, or Darcy's law and porous-medium flow.
- 6Working proficiency with LaTeX, Python, and Jupyter.
- 7Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code useful; gaps acceptable if declared.
- 8English at B2 or above, with written reasoning.
- 9Postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and junior faculty fit best; senior PhD students with a strong first-author record also welcome.
Who Should Apply
The ideal candidate holds a PhD in fluid mechanics, applied mathematics, mechanical engineering, or a related field and has published on convection stability itself, with first-author papers from the last five years preferred. A postdoc, research scientist, or junior faculty member with a verifiable record of Rayleigh-Benard or Rayleigh-Darcy linear stability work will match this panel best. Candidates who know the methods but have not published on convection stability often get declined, because command of normal-mode expansions or spectral eigenvalue methods does not replace papers on the phenomenon. Another common miss is listing papers without DOIs or arXiv IDs, or without showing your author position and the methods each paper demonstrates. The role will not suit researchers whose publication record sits across fluid dynamics, or anyone who cannot provide public proof of authorship.
Salary Insight
The rate is $80 to $110 per hour, and Mercor sets the exact figure by how deep your subdomain match goes. At 10 hours per week across an 8 to 10 week engagement, that comes to about $6,400 to $11,000 total, depending on the hourly tier and the final schedule. The upper half of the range aligns with a direct publication record in Rayleigh-Benard or Rayleigh-Darcy convection stability.
Location
Compensation
$80–110/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
In the form, for every area you select, attach a DOI or arXiv ID for your own paper, state your author position, and name the methods that paper demonstrates, such as linear stability analysis, normal-mode perturbation expansion, or critical Rayleigh number determination. A selection without proof is not scored, and missing author position or method details can drop your fit score even when your publication list is strong.
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