Statistical Physics & Thermodynamics Physicist (PhD)
Listing checked September 25, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
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.
What You'll Do8
- 1Create new research-level physics problems tied to one panel area, such as Nishimori line physics or BPZ null-vector equations.
- 2Solve assigned problems and document each argument so a specialist in the same subfield can verify it.
- 3Review completed solutions from other physicists for method fit, completeness, and correctness.
- 4Audit existing work when the team needs a second check on derivations or numerical results.
- 5Select the panel areas that match your publication record and supply arXiv IDs or DOIs for your own papers.
- 6Use LaTeX, Python, SymPy, and Jupyter to support derivations, checks, or problem statements.
- 7Join a short live alignment call when Mercor needs to agree the area and assignment before onboarding.
- 8Complete a brief 30 to 45 minute assessment if your application requires one.
Requirements9
- 1PhD in statistical physics, mathematical physics, or a related field.
- 2Published work on the specific phenomenon for your chosen panel, not just an adjacent topic in statistical physics.
- 3Three to five representative papers from the last five years, with arXiv IDs or DOIs; first-author papers preferred.
- 4Verifiable publication record that matches the public record.
- 5Working skill with LaTeX, Python, SymPy, and Jupyter.
- 6English at B2 or above, including written reasoning.
- 7Proof in your own papers for at least one method family: exact lattice methods, replica and field-theoretic methods, asymptotic analysis, or conformal methods.
- 8Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code is useful, not required.
- 9Postdoctoral researcher, research scientist, junior faculty, or senior PhD student with a strong first-author record.
Who Should Apply
The strongest candidates hold a PhD in statistical physics, mathematical physics, or a related area and have published on one of the five phenomena listed for this panel. Postdocs, research scientists, junior faculty, and senior PhD students with first-author papers fit the work well because the assignments demand independent judgment and clear written proofs. Physicists whose papers sit in an adjacent area often get declined even when they know the methods. Mercor also scores a selection low when the applicant cannot attach an arXiv ID or DOI from their own paper, or when the stated author position and demonstrated methods do not line up with the public record.
Salary Insight
The rate runs from $80 to $110 per hour, with the final number based on how close your publication record matches the chosen subdomain. This is contract work at roughly 10 hours per week across an 8 to 10 week window, so the range reflects a senior research-level engagement rather than a full-time salary. No other compensation details appear in the source.
Location
Compensation
$80–110/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Apply with three to five papers that connect to one of the five panels, and make each entry easy to verify by including the arXiv ID or DOI, your author position, and the exact methods from the required families. If you claim expertise in Kramers-Wannier duality, replica analytic continuation, or BPZ null-vector equations, point to where those methods appear in your own publications, since Mercor checks both topic match and method match against the public record.
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
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
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
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.
Mercor
VerifiedStochastic Biophysics Research Physicist
CritPt tests whether frontier AI models can reason through real physics research, not textbook exercises. The benchmark paper at arXiv:2509.26574 explains the scope, and Mercor asks you to read it before applying. You join a narrow panel on stochastic autocatalytic growth, covering the chemical master equation, stochastic Hinshelwood cycles, branching processes, circulant matrix spectra, and moment hierarchies. Assignments range from creating research-level problems to solving, reviewing, or auditing them, with every deliverable written so another specialist can verify the argument. The engagement runs 10 hours per week over 8 to 10 weeks, remote and asynchronous.
Mercor
VerifiedConvection Stability Physicist (PhD)
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.