Astronomy Expert (PhD, Master's, or Olympiad Participants)
1. Role Overview
AI research lab on a project to advance frontier astronomy problem-solving. We are looking for astronomy experts who hold a PhD or Master’s degree, or have experience participating in the International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO). The goal of this project is to create novel, clear, and challenging Olympiad-style astronomy problems that cause frontier AI models to fail (i.e., generate an incorrect response) and to support the training of cutting-edge AI reasoning systems.
This is a short-term, high-impact, remote opportunity for those excited about applying their expertise to frontier AI research, with the possibility of extension based on performance.
2. Key Responsibilities
Write original & advanced IAO-style astronomy problems to challenge frontier AI models
Evaluate AI-generated solutions for correctness, clarity, and reasoning quality, and identify where models fail
Identify logical flaws, incomplete reasoning, or insufficiently rigorous derivations
Provide clear, concise, and correct solutions and reasoning, formatted in LaTeX
Maintain extremely high standards of precision, scientific rigor, and problem difficulty
Direct apply via Homepage
REQUIREMENT
3. Required Qualifications
Note: Applicants must be highly proficient in writing and formatting documents using LaTeX
You are a good fit for the project if you have any of the following experiences:
- Have a Master’s or PhD in astronomy (or a related field), or are an Olympiad participant or medalist in the IAO (preferred) or equivalent competitions (RAO, CAO, IAO TST, AAO, EuAO, USAAO, BAO, INAO, JAO, UAC, IAYPT, CAUT, etc.)
Other qualifications:
-
Deep understanding of core theoretical and observational concepts in astronomy and astrophysics
-
Ability to articulate reasoning and derivations clearly in written form
-
Strong ability to evaluate the rigor and complexity of astronomy problems
-
Rigorous attention to detail in verifying solutions
4. More About the Opportunity
-
Expected commitment: 20 hours/week minimum; up to 40 hours/week available
-
Project length: ~2 months, with potential for extension
-
Rolling start dates; setup typically within 1–2 days of approval
5. Compensation & Contract Terms
-
$60–80/hr, dependent on experience and performance
-
Open to contributors worldwide (English proficiency required)
-
Independent contractor engagement
-
Payments issued weekly via Stripe Connect
6. Application Process
-
Submit your resume or CV highlighting your astronomy background and relevant achievements
-
Complete a brief interview (20–30 minutes)
-
Submit a short form detailing your experience writing problems and competing in astronomy or related Olympiads
-
Selected applicants will be contacted within a few days with next steps
COMPANY INFO
Mercor is seeking lawyers with litigation or corporate/transactional experience to support new South Korean dataset projects. These roles involve compiling publicly available legal and financial documents that will contribute to internal testing and external demonstrations for advanced AI systems.
DISCLAIMER
This job board is designed to bring an e-commerce experience to job seekers, allowing you to "shop for a job." However, please note that we do not charge any fees to job seekers for submitting applications, nor do we require or collect any credit card information.
>>No payment requests will be made at any stage of the application process.
