PhD Scientist — STEM Expert

$45–90/hr

rate as listed

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

Create research-level STEM problems grounded in your own PhD work, then provide solutions and objective grading criteria. You will also review other contributors’ problems for technical accuracy, methodological soundness and ambiguity.

The work

This contractor role focuses on designing difficult technical problems from your own research area. Each problem should use realistic constraints and supporting data, include a correct solution with traceable reasoning, and define criteria that let another researcher judge correctness consistently. You will also review peer submissions and flag tasks that are ambiguous or cannot be graded reliably.

What micro1 screens for

The AI interview is likely to test whether you can discuss research you performed yourself, defend technical decisions under follow-up, and distinguish a genuinely correct answer from one that merely sounds plausible. A completed PhD in a STEM field is required. Hands-on research is also required, while wet-lab, research-lab or academic experience is strongly preferred. Publications, documented research contributions and prior AI training or evaluation work are advantages, not requirements.

Practical details

This is a fully remote contractor opportunity open worldwide, with flexible participation intended to fit alongside an existing role. The listing does not specify a typical weekly hour range, fixed working hours or an explicit async policy, so candidates should be ready to state their reliable availability and clarify scheduling during onboarding.

Pay band: $45–90/hr

What they look for

Research
Data Analysis
Experimental Design
Scientific Writing
Statistical Analysis
Laboratory Skills
Wet Lab
Clinical Research
MATLAB
Python
SolidWorks
Biostatistics
Epidemiology
Clinical Trials
Data Visualization
Spectroscopy
Chromatography

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 verifies the required doctorate and tests whether you can define your research contribution precisely rather than relying on a broad disciplinary label.
A strong answer: State the degree field, institution and completion status, then summarize the dissertation question, method and original contribution in technically accurate terms. Keep the scope narrow enough that a specialist could identify what you personally investigated.
Where people lose it: Candidates lose points by naming a broad topic but never identifying the research question, their own contribution or whether the PhD is completed.

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