STEM Researchers - MSc/PhD (Must own MacBook)

Employer description and requirements

Role Overview

Mercor is looking for STEM researchers who hold or are currently pursuing an MSc or PhD to support a research project with a leading AI lab. You will work through real research workflows on your own Mac to help benchmark and improve cutting-edge AI models.

Qualifications

• Required: You must own a MacBook or Mac with an Apple M-series chip or Intel processor, running macOS 15 or higher. Applicants without a Mac cannot be considered.
• Currently pursuing or have completed an MSc or PhD in a STEM field (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, computer science, engineering)
• Hands-on research experience with tools such as Python/Jupyter, MATLAB, R, LaTeX, reference managers, or lab/data analysis software
• Strong online research skills and ability to gather and clearly summarize information from diverse sources
• Ability to clearly explain your reasoning while you work
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Job Details

• Part-time commitment of approximately 10-20 hours per week
• Responsibilities include completing and narrating real research tasks (literature review, data analysis, modeling, technical writing) on your Mac to create high-quality training data for advanced AI models
• Clearly structured responsibilities without the high pressure typically found in internships or full-time consulting roles
• Immediate start preferred

Application and Onboarding Process

• Submit your resume, followed by a brief (3-minute) conversation with our AI interviewer to assess research and reasoning skills
• Complete a brief paid assessment to further evaluate your fit for the role
• You will receive follow-up communication within a few days regarding your application status and next steps