Biology PhDs with published papers

Role Overview

Mercor is seeking PhD-level life scientists with deep expertise across biology, omics, and computation to support a research project with a leading AI lab. In this role, you will leverage your domain knowledge in biology to create challenges for leading AI models - ensuring scientific accuracy, experimental rigor, and sound reasoning across complex biological questions. Your hands-on research experience will directly shape how next-generation AI systems understand and reason about the life sciences.

Key Responsibilities

• Create challenges related to molecular biology, genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, and/or proteomics with scientific accuracy and depth
• Design experimental challenges, including evaluation of controls, confounders, reproducibility, and data interpretation
• Create high-quality training data including research-level questions, answers, and evaluation rubrics across domains
• Provide structured feedback on challenges covering wet-lab protocols, computational analysis pipelines, and study design
• Apply quantitative and bioinformatics reasoning to calibrate model performance on complex, multi-step biological problems

Qualifications

Required

• PhD (or MD/PhD) in a life-science field such as molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, bioengineering, or systems biology
• Currently or recently active in academia - e.g., faculty, staff scientist, research scientist, or postdoc with an active institutional affiliation and ongoing research
• Hands-on wet-lab experience - must have designed and executed experiments (not purely computational)
• Strong experimental design and scientific reasoning - demonstrated expertise with controls, confounders, reproducibility, and interpretation
• Bio-focused domain expertise in at least one of the following:
• • Genomics
  • Transcriptomics
  • Epigenetics
  • Proteomics / protein assays / protein biochemistry
• Evidence of research impact - published peer-reviewed work or influential preprints/tools/datasets with clear contributions (e.g., first/second author papers, senior-author leadership, or widely used methods and resources)

Preferred

• Computational and quantitative skills - experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistical genetics, and/or machine learning for omics (analysis, interpretation, and study design support)
• Breadth across molecular modalities:
• • DNA / RNA / protein biology; gene expression and translation
  • Protein assays (e.g., Western blot, ELISA, mass spectrometry-based proteomics)
  • Small molecules / chemical biology exposure

Job Details

• Pilot program to start. High touch and high excellence required - with potential for extension based on performance.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Contract and Payment Terms

• You will be engaged as an independent contractor.
• This is a fully remote role that can be completed on your own schedule.
• Projects can be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on needs and performance.
• Your work at Mercor will not involve access to confidential or proprietary information from any employer, client, or institution.
• Payments are weekly on Stripe or Wise based on services rendered.
• Please note: We are unable to support H1-B or STEM OPT candidates at this time.

About Mercor

Mercor partners with leading AI labs and enterprises to train frontier models using human expertise. You will work on projects that focus on training and enhancing AI systems. You will be paid competitively, collaborate with leading researchers, and help shape the next generation of AI systems in your area of expertise.