PhD Scientist — STEM Expert
micro1 • Remote
Education
PhD
Type
Hourly
Pay
$45-90/hr
Your rate depends on your experience and the task.
Actively hiring
50 openings
Checked
Only apply if this role fits your skills and interests.
About this role
From the micro1 listing
Job Title: PhD Scientist - STEM Expert Job Type: Contractor Location: Remote(Worldwide)
Opportunity Snapshot
Pay: $45 - $90/hour Commitment: Flexible — fits alongside your current role Location: Fully remote You’ll need: A completed PhD in a STEM field, plus hands-on research experience Your tasks: Build difficult technical problems from your own research and define what makes an answer correct These tasks are hard to build, and that’s the point. We’re looking for people with genuine depth in their field: the problems where the textbook answer isn’t enough, where the right approach depends on reading the constraints correctly, where a plausible-looking answer is quietly wrong.
What you’ll do
- Design difficult technical problems drawn from your own research area, with realistic constraints and supporting data.
- Provide the correct solution and walk through the reasoning that gets there.
- Define objective criteria for correctness, so another researcher reviewing the work would reach the same verdict.
- Review problems built by other contributors for technical accuracy and soundness of method.
- Flag problems that turn out to be ambiguous or ungradable rather than submitting them.
What we’re looking for
- Completed PhD in a STEM field. This is a hard requirement.
- Hands-on research experience — work you did yourself, not work you read about.
- Wet lab, research lab, or academic experience is strongly preferred.
- Able to explain why an answer is correct clearly enough that another researcher could verify it.
- Publications or a record of research contribution is a strong plus.
- Prior experience on AI training or evaluation projects is a plus, not a requirement.
How the selection process works
- Apply and complete the screening questions
- Complete the AI interview for this role — it’s how your expertise gets in front of the client
- Profile review
- Onboarding — our Talent Ops team will get you set up
How long hiring takes
Across the platforms we list, people typically hear back about a hire within about 25 days of applying.
Interview prep
This listing mentions this tool. Brush up before a technical screen:
Why this role
This PhD Scientist — STEM Expert role pays $45-90/hr for STEM judgment from someone trained in the field.
Talent pool
We're light on STEM candidates
We've tracked 1,022 STEM listings and have few candidates to put forward for them. Set up a profile and we'll consider you for roles like this one.
Set up your profileSkills and categories
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Common questions
Can I apply to micro1 from outside the US or UK?
Yes. micro1 accepts applicants from most countries. Most roles need strong written and spoken English.
Does micro1 monitor your computer while you work?
On many projects, yes. Time-tracking tools take screenshots now and then to confirm your hours. Check the project's requirements before you accept it.
Do I need a PhD for research-level AI training roles?
The best-paid roles usually expect a PhD or current enrollment. The domain assessment decides, though, and if you can solve the problems the degree matters less.
Is research-level AI training steady work?
Usually not. Work comes in projects, such as training a model on quantum mechanics, that can last a few weeks. Plan for it like a short fellowship.
What does STEM work look like for a PhD Scientist — STEM Expert?
You check AI answers to STEM questions, correct their errors and write expert reasoning. As a PhD Scientist — STEM Expert, you're hired for that judgment, so hands-on STEM experience matters.
What specific skills does this listing call for?
Research, Data Analysis, Experimental Design, and Scientific Writing are named directly in the listing. If you don't have hands-on experience with these, expect the screening to test for them.
What does the 'openings' count on this listing mean?
It's how many people micro1 still wants to hire for this role: 50 when we last checked. A high number means more places to fill. The screening stays the same.
How much does this specific role pay?
This listing is posted at $45-90/hr, an hourly rate. Where you land in the range depends on your background and the assessment. Pay can change after we check the listing, so confirm the rate on the platform's application page.
What happens when I click Apply on this listing?
Apply opens micro1's site, where you create an account and follow its sign-up steps.
Is a PhD required?
For this role, yes, or similar professional depth, and the assessment checks it. PhD candidates and people with published research have qualified without the degree.