Computational Mathematics Researcher (Task Author)

$100/hr

rate as listed

Workload: ~15h/week
Engagement: Project-based
Location: Worldwide
Field: Sciences

Author research-grade AI evaluation tasks from mathematical software you have personally implemented and validated. Each task combines a well-specified problem, connected subproblems, a reference solution and tests grounded in genuine computational research.

The work

You will turn computational work from your own research into evaluation tasks for AI models. Suitable source material includes numerical solvers, optimization routines, simulations, statistical models and implemented algorithms across areas such as scientific computing, differential equations, numerical linear algebra, stochastic processes, computational statistics, discrete mathematics, geometry, topology, number theory and inverse problems. Each submission needs a main problem, connected subproblems, a reference solution and tests, with difficulty arising from the mathematics rather than missing information.

What AfterQuery screens for

The screen focuses on whether you have personally written and debugged code that implements or validates a mathematical method. You should be ready to explain a concrete research computation, its mathematical assumptions, validation strategy, failure modes and suitability as an evaluation task. Python is preferred, but familiarity with Python or machine learning without hands-on computational mathematics research is not sufficient. Public code, a thesis or papers showing computational work are preferred, as is prior data annotation, data labeling or AI/ML evaluation experience.

Contract and logistics

This is flexible, task-based independent-contractor work with no fixed weekly schedule. A task typically takes about two hours, then may require revisions following structured review; experts may also review other submissions against a short rubric. The listing does not explicitly confirm a remote-work policy. Contractors must be able to work without visa sponsorship, students on F-1 visas, including OPT or CPT, are not eligible, and accepted experts undergo identity and background verification.

Pay band: $100/hr

What they look for

Computational mathematics research experience at the stated student, postdoctoral or recent-graduate level
Hands-on implementation or validation of mathematical methods in original code
Ability to convert genuine research computations into self-contained evaluation tasks
Reference-solution development and numerical or algorithmic test design
Judgment about mathematical validity, metrics, tolerances and edge cases
Python implementation experience, preferred

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: This tests whether your experience extends beyond using an existing package to making technically consequential implementation and debugging decisions.
A strong answer: Identify the research question, mathematical method, code you wrote, a specific defect or numerical issue you diagnosed, and the evidence that the corrected implementation worked. Clearly separate your contribution from collaborators' work and library functionality.
Where people lose it: Candidates lose points by describing a research topic or software stack without identifying what they personally implemented and debugged.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.