Mercor
MercorVerified listing

Science Research Expert - AI Evaluation

60–120/hr
Remote
part-time
Posted September 15, 2026
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Listing checked September 16, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor

Key details

Pay
$60–120/hr
Location
Remote
Job type
part-time
Posted
September 15, 2026

Overview

Mercor builds pools of scientific experts who help frontier AI teams judge model work in domains those teams cannot cover on their own. This listing is a standing application for part-time, remote research work, not a single opening. Accepted experts join a science pool, and Mercor invites matching people to specific projects that name the client, rate, hours, and hiring decision. Projects in life, physical, social sciences, math, and policy research have paid $60 to $120 per hour, with scope and depth setting the exact rate. Your role centers on research design, statistical reasoning, and written judgments that become grading rubrics for AI evaluation.

What You'll Do7

  • Write original research problems from your field, complete with the system, data, assumptions, and the reference answer used to grade a model's attempt.
  • Assess model-written analysis for method fit, statistical support, and whether conclusions follow from evidence.
  • Identify outputs that seem coherent but fail peer review because of study design, sample limits, or measurement constraints.
  • Create or refine grading criteria that turn your scientific standards into a repeatable rubric.
  • Explain your reasoning in writing so project leads and model teams can follow the calls you made.
  • Flag unclear task instructions or missing context instead of guessing at what a client wants.
  • Review model interpretations across disciplines such as biology, physics, economics, or political science.

Requirements7

  • Graduate degree in a life, physical, or social science.
  • Hands-on research experience where you designed studies and interpreted data yourself.
  • Ability to explain methodological and statistical choices in clear written English.
  • Comfort working with ambiguous prompts and incomplete specifications.
  • Willingness to raise questions when instructions lack detail.
  • Research background close enough in time that you can defend the decisions you made.
  • Domain depth in at least one listed area, such as chemistry, astronomy, psychology, or policy research.

Who Should Apply

Researchers who hold a graduate degree in a science field and have designed studies, run analyses, and defended their interpretations in writing fit this pool best. The work suits people who can read a model's answer, spot weak statistical support, and explain why a conclusion does not follow. Candidates without graduate-level research training or without direct data interpretation experience tend to score low, even when they know a subject well from coursework. Applications also lose fit when candidates cannot point to specific studies they designed or when their writing leaves the reasoning behind a judgment unclear. The role is less suitable for people who want a fixed schedule, a defined project from day one, or tasks with complete instructions at every step.

Salary Insight

Projects have posted at $60 to $120 an hour, and Mercor sets the exact rate per project based on scope and depth. That range places the work in the expert AI evaluation tier, where pay tracks scientific domain knowledge and the complexity of the grading task. A specific project listing names the rate, hours, and client, so final compensation depends on the assignment you match with.

Pay and demand for Science & Research roles

Market estimates from live NearSkill listings — separate from this job's published terms.

Aggregated

This role · as published

$60–120/hr

Taken from the listing itself.

Typical pay · estimated

$70/hour

Median of 1,291 similar roles that publish pay · 301 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave

Most Science & Research roles pay $40–$95 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.

Typical rangeMedian payThis role

Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.

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Figures from Science & Research roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.

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Required skills

BiologyBiotechnologyChemistryMaterials SciencePhysicsAstronomyMathematicsEarth ScienceEnvironmental ScienceAgriculturePsychologySociologyAnthropologyEconomicsPolitical SciencePolicy ResearchResearch DesignData InterpretationStatistical AnalysisPeer ReviewScientific WritingAI EvaluationModel Evaluation

How applying works

  1. 1. Pre-screen on NearSkill

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  2. 2. Finish on the employer’s site

    We hand you to Mercor’s official application page to complete the form.

  3. 3. Wait for a response

    The employer’s hiring team reviews applications and gets back to you.

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