High Energy Physicist (PhD)
Listing checked September 25, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
CritPt, an arXiv-published benchmark (arXiv:2509.26574), asks whether frontier AI models can perform real physics research rather than solve textbook exercises. The project brings in physicists to build, solve, check, or audit problems that match their own publication record. Work spans seven narrow panels, including AdS/BCFT, LaMET and quasi-PDFs, lattice QCD parton structure, ultralight dark photon detection, and superconformal index counting. Assignments are agreed after matching, with complete written reasoning required so another specialist can verify each result. The commitment is about 10 hours per week for 8 to 10 weeks, remote and asynchronous.
What You'll Do10
- 1Select up to five research areas where your own papers show direct work on the listed phenomenon.
- 2Create new research-level physics problems in your subfield for the CritPt benchmark.
- 3Solve problems using methods such as one-loop Feynman diagram computation, geodesic approximation, or Molien-Weyl counting.
- 4Write complete derivations and reasoning so independent specialists can follow and verify.
- 5Review completed problems and flag gaps, errors, or unsupported claims.
- 6Audit solutions against the benchmark's research standard.
- 7Match methods and results to the specific panel requirements.
- 8Provide arXiv IDs or DOIs for representative papers and document your author position.
- 9Complete a short live alignment call when invited to agree area and assignment.
- 10Take a 30 to 45 minute assessment if requested.
Requirements10
- 1PhD in high energy theory, nuclear theory, or a related field.
- 2Publication record on the exact phenomenon in one of the seven panels, not a neighboring topic.
- 3For quasi-PDF areas, hands-on loop-calculation experience, not lattice QCD work alone.
- 4Three to five representative papers with arXiv IDs or DOIs, with most from the past five years.
- 5First-author papers preferred.
- 6Command of at least one required method family: holographic, perturbative QCD, effective field theory, lattice, group-theoretic, or astroparticle and detector methods.
- 7Proficiency with LaTeX, Python, SymPy, and Jupyter.
- 8Useful familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code. State any gaps.
- 9English at B2 level or above, with clear written argument.
- 10Strong fit for postdocs, research scientists, and junior faculty. Senior PhD students with a strong first-author record can apply.
Who Should Apply
The role suits a PhD physicist who has published on one of the seven listed phenomena and can show first-author work from the last five years. Postdocs, research scientists, and junior faculty tend to match best, though senior PhD students with a strong first-author record are welcome. If your papers focus on a nearby topic, or if your quasi-PDF experience sits in lattice QCD without loop calculations, expect a low fit score. Applications often get declined because the selected area lacks proof, such as an arXiv ID or DOI for your own paper with author position. The review checks every listed paper against the public record, so vague claims or missing publication details will hurt your chances.
Salary Insight
Pay runs from $80 to $110 per hour, with the rate set by how well your subdomain matches the panel. For research-level physics consulting on a benchmark project, that band sits in the specialist PhD range, and the top end goes to candidates with exact phenomenon-level publications and verified first-author work. The engagement covers about 10 hours per week across an 8 to 10 week window.
Location
Compensation
$80–110/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Read arXiv:2509.26574 before you apply, then fill the form with up to five areas and attach your own paper for each one. Use arXiv IDs or DOIs, state your author position, and name the methods the paper demonstrates. A selection without proof is not scored, so skip areas where you cannot point to a direct publication.
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.
Mercor
VerifiedMathematical Physicist PhD
CritPt, a public benchmark for research-level physics challenges, asks whether frontier AI models can reason through actual physics research instead of textbook exercises. The benchmark paper, arXiv:2509.26574, explains the scope and the four subfields in this panel. Mercor matches physicists to work in their own area: special functions, integrable systems, permutation combinatorics for random tensor network entanglement, or conformal geometry. Assignments range from creating and solving problems to reviewing or auditing finished work, and the commitment runs 10 hours per week over 8 to 10 weeks. Pay falls between $80 and $110 per hour, set by how deep your subdomain match goes.
Mercor
VerifiedAtomic, Molecular and Optical Physicist
Mercor seeks physicists for CritPt, a public benchmark that tests whether frontier AI models can reason through research-level physics instead of textbook exercises. The work centers on one of seven AMO areas, from strong-field and high-harmonic generation to levitated optomechanics, cavity QED, and few-body physics. You may design problems, solve them, review completed work, or audit it, with the assignment agreed after you match to an area. Every output needs enough written reasoning for another specialist to follow and verify. Read arXiv:2509.26574 before applying to see if the benchmark matches your interests.
Mercor
VerifiedStatistical Physics & Thermodynamics Physicist (PhD)
Mercor seeks physicists to contribute to CritPt, a public benchmark that tests whether frontier AI models can reason through genuine physics research. You will work inside your own subfield, taking on one or more research-level problems around disordered spin models, replica methods, range expansions, lattice path enumeration, or two-dimensional conformal field theory. Assignments range from writing new problems and solving them to reviewing or auditing another specialist's work. Every deliverable must stand on its own, so clear written reasoning matters as much as the final answer. The benchmark paper, arXiv:2509.26574, gives a fast read on whether this work fits your interests.
Mercor
VerifiedPhysicist (PhD) - Gravitation & Cosmology
CritPt is a public benchmark that puts research-level physics problems in front of frontier AI models, testing whether they can reason through real physics research instead of textbook exercises. Mercor matches physicists to four narrow panels: three cover torsionful gravity and axion inflation, one covers high-energy astrophysics. You may create problems, solve them, review work, or audit completed assignments in your own subfield, with the exact task agreed after matching. Every output needs enough written reasoning for another specialist to follow and check. The engagement runs 10 hours per week over 8 to 10 weeks, remote and asynchronous. Read arXiv:2509.26574 before applying to see if the benchmark fits your interests.
Mercor
VerifiedCondensed Matter Physics PhD - Remote Research
Mercor seeks physicists for CritPt, a public benchmark of research-level physics challenges that probes whether frontier AI models can handle real physics research rather than textbook exercises. The benchmark paper is arXiv:2509.26574, and reading it before applying gives a fast read on whether the work suits you. Assignments center on problems in your own subfield and may involve creating problems, solving them, reviewing completed work, or auditing it. Every deliverable must let another specialist follow and verify the reasoning, so clear written arguments matter as much as the final answer.
Mercor
VerifiedQuantum Information Physicist (Remote, PhD)
Mercor seeks PhD-level physicists to contribute to CritPt, a public benchmark built to test whether frontier AI models can reason through real physics research. Work happens inside your own subfield, whether that sits in quantum information, quantum optics, or a related area, and assignments can range from creating research-level problems to solving, reviewing, or auditing them. The benchmark paper at arXiv:2509.26574 gives a clear picture of the project, so read it before you apply to see whether the tasks match your background. You commit about 10 hours per week for 8 to 10 weeks, remote and asynchronous, and Mercor sets pay from $80 to $110 per hour based on subdomain depth.