Remote Astrophysics & Cosmology Expert - AI Trainer ($70-$100 per hour)

Overview Astrophysics & Cosmology Expert We\'re building a large-scale benchmark to test how well advanced AI systems can solve hard scientific and engineering problems. As a task designer, you\'ll create challenging computational problems that check whether AI can use real scientific software to do research-level work — running simulations, interpreting results, designing experiments, and uncovering hidden information from data. This isn\'t a typical data-labeling job. You\'ll design original, graduate-level problems based on real scientific workflows, test them against cutting-edge AI models, and fine-tune them until the difficulty is just right. Responsibilities Design problems that require skilled use of specialized scientific software. Some problems ask the AI to compute exact answers from a fully defined setup, testing its ability to carry out complex, multi-step workflows. Some problems require the AI to plan a series of queries or experiments to uncover information not directly visible, including strategic measurement, interpretation of partial results, and narrowing down possibilities efficiently. Each problem goes through a testing loop against state-of-the-art AI models, with refinement until the target difficulty is achieved. Domains & Tools We\'re Hiring For: expertise in Astrophysics & Cosmology with hands-on experience in: astropy and related tools for cosmological calculations, angular power spectra, galaxy survey analysis, and observational data reduction pipelines. Experience with other specialized software in this domain will also be considered. What Makes a Strong Candidate You have graduate-level expertise (MS or PhD preferred) in the domain above, with real hands-on experience using these tools — not just theoretical knowledge. You have written code using these libraries to solve actual research problems, understand their edge cases, and know what makes a problem genuinely hard rather than just complicated. Beyond domain expertise, you think like a puzzle designer: the challenge comes from smart reasoning, multiple plausible approaches, and careful analysis to find the right solution, not surface-level pattern matching. Requirements Graduate-level training in a relevant STEM field (MS, PhD, or equivalent research experience). Proven proficiency with at least one listed scientific software library, shown through research publications, open-source contributions, or professional work. Strong Python skills — writing problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators. Ability to work independently and refine problem designs based on feedback. Comfortable working in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes. Available for at least 15–20 hours per week. Nice to Have 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. Please note: This application includes a coding assessment as part of the evaluation process. #J-18808-Ljbffr Mercor