Computational Seismology Expert - PhD

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

About the role

We are seeking a Computational Seismology & Geophysics Expert to design challenging computational problems that evaluate AI capabilities in solving scientific tasks. This is a contract position with a commitment of 15–20 hours per week, offering a compensation of $70–$85/hour, and is fully remote.

Responsibilities

• Design challenging computational problems to evaluate AI capabilities in solving scientific tasks.
• Develop problems requiring the use of specialized scientific software like SPECFEM, ObsPy, and Pyrocko.
• Test and refine problems against state-of-the-art AI models to achieve target difficulty.
• Collaborate on AI model training, evaluation, and improvement in computational seismology.
• Work independently and asynchronously to refine problem designs based on feedback.

Requirements

• Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience).
• Proven proficiency with at least one scientific software library (SPECFEM, ObsPy, etc.).
• Strong Python skills for writing problem setups and solution validators.
• Ability to work independently in a Linux/terminal environment.
• Available for at least 15–20 hours per week.

Qualifications

Preferred:

• Experience across multiple listed domains or tools.
• Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design.
• Background in scientific teaching or exam/problem-set design.
• Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments.

Pay

$70–$85/hour

Schedule

15–20 hours/week