Computational Statistics 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 Statistics and Applied Mathematics Expert to design challenging computational problems that test AI systems' ability to solve scientific and engineering tasks. This is a remote contract position with a commitment of 15–20 hours per week, compensated at $70–$90/hour.

Responsibilities

• Design challenging computational problems to test AI systems' ability to solve scientific and engineering tasks.
• Develop problems requiring skilled use of specialized statistical, mathematical, or scientific software packages.
• Test and refine problems against state-of-the-art AI models to achieve target difficulty.
• Collaborate with AI research teams to improve problem setups and solution validators.
• Work independently in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes.

Requirements

• Graduate-level training in statistics, applied mathematics, or a relevant STEM field.
• Proven proficiency with at least one specialized statistical, mathematical, or scientific software package.
• Strong Python skills.
• Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback.
• Available for at least 15–20 hours per week.

Qualifications

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

Pay

$70–$90/hour

Schedule

15–20 hours/week