Earth, Ocean & Climate Science Researcher (Task Author)
Listing checked October 16, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Overview
AfterQuery builds a network of researchers who turn their own computational earth science work into evaluation tasks for AI models. You would author tasks from real research you have run and debugged, whether that is a geophysical inversion, an ocean or atmosphere model, a data assimilation step, or a remote-sensing analysis. Each task starts with a main problem, adds a few connected subproblems, and includes a Python reference solution with tests that check the result. Difficulty should come from the science, not from missing information. Pay is $200 per approved task, which takes about 2 hours, and you can take on as many tasks as you want on your own schedule. Open to research-track Bachelor's students, Master's and PhD students, postdocs, and recent graduates in geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, hydrology, or a related field.
What You'll Do6
- 1Design original evaluation tasks that come from your own computational research in earth, ocean, or climate science.
- 2Break each task into a main problem and a few connected subproblems that reflect real scientific workflows.
- 3Write a Python reference solution and tests that verify whether a candidate's result matches expected behavior.
- 4Define the evaluation metrics a strong solution should meet, while keeping exact passing thresholds private.
- 5Rework tasks after structured review feedback until they earn approval.
- 6Optionally review and calibrate tasks submitted by other domain experts against a short rubric.
Requirements8
- 1Currently a research-track Bachelor's student with research experience (such as an REU, thesis, or lab/RA role), a Master's or PhD student, postdoc, or recent graduate in geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, hydrology, or a closely related field.
- 2Hands-on coding experience in Python or another language for modeling or analyzing earth, ocean, or atmospheric systems. General Python or ML familiarity does not meet this bar.
- 3Ability to translate your own computational research into a well-specified problem with a reference solution and tests.
- 4Self-directed work style and capacity to manage your own schedule for task-based work.
- 5Authorization to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship. F-1 students on OPT/CPT do not qualify.
- 6Preferred: background in data assimilation, ocean or atmosphere modeling, or seismic inversion.
- 7Preferred: public code repositories, a thesis, or publications that demonstrate your computational work.
- 8Preferred: prior work in data annotation, data labeling, or AI/ML evaluation.
Who Should Apply
Researchers who code their own earth, ocean, or atmospheric models and want to turn that work into AI evaluation tasks. Ideal for current Master's/PhD students, postdocs, recent grads, or research-track undergrads with a thesis or lab project. You must be able to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship.
Salary Insight
Pay is $200 per approved task, about 2 hours of work, which works out to $100 per hour. That rate sits above what most AI evaluation platforms offer for expert tasks, and there is no cap on how many tasks you complete. You work as an independent contractor.
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$100/hr
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Compensation
$100/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
When you apply, share a public link to research code you wrote and describe one specific calculation from your work that could become a task, including the metric you would use to judge a correct solution. That shows you can turn your science into a testable problem, which is the core of this role.
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