STEM Expert – Biology & Bioinformatics (PhD)

$45–90/hr

rate as listed

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

Evaluate biology and bioinformatics analyses used to benchmark and improve AI systems, including workflows for genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and other biological data. This remote contractor role requires advanced domain experience, hands-on analysis of real biological data and proficiency in Python and/or R.

The work

You will design, evaluate and critique biology, bioinformatics and computational biology workflows used in AI benchmarking. Day-to-day tasks may include reviewing NGS, RNA-seq, single-cell, variant-calling or protein-structure analyses; checking statistical choices and tool configurations; identifying reproducibility problems; and documenting actionable corrections. Relevant specialisms include genomics and NGS, transcriptomics and single-cell analysis, proteomics and structural biology, molecular and cell biology, systems biology, drug discovery, computational pharmacology, and biostatistics or machine learning applied to biology.

What the platform screens for

Candidates need a PhD in biology, bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics or a closely related STEM field, or equivalent industry or research experience. The screen is likely to test deep expertise in at least one relevant area, experience analyzing real biological data, statistical judgment and the ability to defend methodological decisions under follow-up. Professional written and spoken English at C1 or higher is required. Proficiency in Python and/or R is required, along with relevant tools such as BLAST, samtools, GATK, Bioconductor or Biopython. Experience with Nextflow, Snakemake, Linux, AI/ML-assisted biology, publications, patents or open-source bioinformatics is preferred rather than required.

Logistics

This is a remote, worldwide contractor engagement. The listing does not specify whether work is fully asynchronous, a minimum weekly commitment or typical working hours, so candidates should be ready to state their availability, time zone and capacity for any scheduled collaboration.

Pay band: $45–90/hr

What they look for

scientific software configuration
ai/ml-assisted chemistry workflows
quantitative analysis
analytical reasoning
scientific programming
written communication
verbal communication
documentation
problem-solving

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 the candidate can anchor claimed expertise in a specific dataset, biological question, analytical workflow and defensible result.
A strong answer: Identify the dataset type, scale and source, then explain the biological question, tools used, key decisions and how the result was validated. Make clear which parts you personally performed.
Where people lose it: Naming broad fields such as genomics or single-cell biology without describing a concrete dataset, workflow or individual contribution loses credibility.

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