Physics Professor or Principal Investigator for AI Training

Role Overview

Apply senior physics expertise to help train next-generation AI systems through rigorous, real-world technical input. This remote contractor role centers on evaluating complex physics reasoning, clarifying uncertainty, and producing written assessments that can withstand review by fellow senior physicists. Prior AI experience is not required.

Key Responsibilities

• Adjudicate contested or competing physics arguments, solutions, and interpretations within your subfield.
• Compare alternative approaches to the same problem, explaining which approach is stronger, under which assumptions, and in which regimes.
• Define meta-level criteria for assessing the robustness and validity of physics work, including important assumptions and where approximations may fail.
• Provide authoritative, calibrated judgments while clearly identifying genuine uncertainty and open questions in the field.
• Write clear, rigorous, defensible evaluations suitable for senior-physicist review.
• Use LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter as needed to verify or compare technical claims.
• Clearly distinguish unresolved field questions from questions that can be answered using established considerations.

Qualifications

• PhD in physics, with demonstrated expertise and scholarly impact in a defined subfield.
• Current or former Associate Professor, Full Professor, Chair Professor, Principal Investigator, or Group Leader, with a record of independent research leadership.
• Active research in one or more of the following areas: High Energy Physics, Mathematical Physics, Biophysics, Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter, AMO or Quantum Optics, Gravitation, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Quantum Information, or Optical Properties of Materials.
• Three to five recent representative publications in the target subfield, including arXiv or DOI references.
• Experience supervising PhD students or postdoctoral researchers, or comparable leadership in an industry research environment.
• Physics mastery, sound judgment in ambiguous cases, meta-level reasoning, research leadership, and the ability to articulate defensible written conclusions.
• Proficiency with LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter. Candidates should identify any gaps in experience with these tools.
• Exceptional written communication skills and the ability to express nuanced, well-reasoned judgments.

Work Terms

• Remote independent contractor engagement.

Compensation

• $80 to $160 per hour.