Gravitation, Cosmology and Astrophysics Physicist (PhD)

Contribute research-grade physics reasoning to a public benchmark designed to evaluate whether frontier AI models can perform genuine research work. You will work within your published specialty on narrowly matched problems in torsionful gravity, axion inflation, parity-violating gravity, or high-energy astrophysics. Review the benchmark paper, arXiv:2509.26574, before applying to assess your interest in the work. Role Overview

Assignments are matched to your publication record and may involve creating research problems, solving them, reviewing completed work, or auditing it. Each deliverable must include sufficiently complete written reasoning for another specialist to independently follow and verify it.

• Einstein-Cartan and Nieh-Yan axion inflation, including perturbations and power spectra: first-order gravity, the Nieh-Yan invariant, tetrad-formalism torsion, pseudoscalar axion and natural inflation, cosmological perturbation theory, Mukhanov-Sasaki modes, primordial curvature power spectra, and slow-roll methods.
• Einstein-Cartan and Nieh-Yan axion inflation, including FRW background dynamics: Palatini gravity, tetrad and spin-connection variables, torsion, the Nieh-Yan term, axionic natural inflation, FRW dynamics, and numerical integration of background field equations.
• Dynamical Chern-Simons gravity in Palatini formalism and parity-violating inflation: Palatini and Einstein-Cartan formulations, tetrad and spin-connection variables, torsion and contorsion decomposition, pseudoscalar coupling to the Pontryagin density, gravitational parity violation, FRW cosmology, slow-roll inflation, and numerical integration of coupled field equations.
• High-energy astrophysics of blazar jets, photohadronic emission, and multimessenger constraints: relativistic beaming and Doppler boosting, Delta-resonance photopion production, interaction optical depth, electromagnetic cascades, synchrotron photon fields, one-zone blazar models, variability-based causality constraints, and multimessenger X-ray constraints.

• PhD in gravitation, cosmology, astroparticle physics, or a closely related field. Postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and junior faculty are particularly well suited; senior PhD students with a strong first-author publication record may apply.
• Published research on the exact phenomenon relevant to the selected area. Broad modified-gravity experience or numerical expertise alone is insufficient without publications on torsion, Nieh-Yan terms, Chern-Simons terms, or the applicable astrophysical phenomenon.
• Three to five representative publications, preferably from the past five years, with arXiv IDs or DOIs. First authorship is strongly preferred, and all submissions will be verified against public records.
• Published work demonstrating at least one relevant method family: Einstein-Cartan-Palatini gravity; tetrad and spin-connection variables; torsion and contorsion; Nieh-Yan or gravitational Chern-Simons terms; cosmological perturbation theory; Mukhanov-Sasaki modes; primordial power spectra; slow-roll methods; numerical modified-gravity cosmology; or astroparticle modeling involving beaming, photohadronic processes, electromagnetic cascades, or one-zone emission models.
• Careful command of tetrad and spin-connection sign conventions.
• Working proficiency in LaTeX, Python, SymPy, and Jupyter. Familiarity with an agentic coding extension in VS Code is helpful; candidly disclosed gaps are acceptable.
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher, including clear written technical reasoning.

• Remote, asynchronous hourly engagement with no fixed working hours.
• Commit approximately 10 hours per week over an 8 to 10 week period, beginning immediately.
• The specific research area and assignment are agreed after matching.

$80 to $110 per hour, determined by the depth of alignment with the relevant subdomain.

• Complete the application form with your education, research experience, method self-assessment, and up to five areas of strongest fit.
• For every selected area, provide an arXiv ID or DOI for your own supporting paper, your author position, and the methods demonstrated. Selections without supporting evidence are not scored.
• Your publications and authorship will be checked against the public record.
• Qualified candidates will either proceed directly or be invited to a short live alignment conversation to confirm the research area and assignment.
• A 30 to 45 minute assessment may be requested when needed, though most applicants will not be asked to complete one.