Astronomy Expert

Role Description

Mercor is collaborating with a leading AI research group on a project to advance frontier astronomy problem-solving in multilingual contexts. We are seeking astronomy experts with either International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) or a PhD in astronomy. The goal of this project is to collect, organize, and curate high-level astronomy questions and resources from diverse international sources to support the training of cutting-edge AI models. This is a short-term, remote opportunity for those excited about applying their expertise to frontier AI research.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research to identify advanced astronomy questions and resources (in any language)
• Curate and organize files into a structured dataset
• Ensure the scientific accuracy and difficulty level of sourced materials
• Extract detailed reasoning frameworks and analyses from academic source materials

Qualifications

• Background in astronomy with one of the following:
• Medalist or participant in the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (preferred)
• PhD in any subfield of astronomy
• Strong ability to evaluate the rigor and complexity of astronomy problems
• Multilingual background or experience working with international astronomy resources preferred
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills

Requirements

• Remote and asynchronous — set your own schedule
• Expected time commitment: 10–20 hours/week
• Short-term engagement, estimated 1–2 months
• Flexible participation for experts with varying availability

Compensation & Contract Terms

• $75/hour for services rendered
• Independent contractor engagement
• Payments issued weekly via Stripe Connect

Application Process

• Submit your resume or CV highlighting astronomy background and relevant achievements
• Complete a brief form outlining your availability and language skills
• Selected applicants will be contacted within a few days with next steps