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About the Role
We are seeking expert physics researchers to author and verify golden reference solutions for the CritPt benchmark (arXiv:2509.26574v3) - a frontier research-level physics benchmark. Participants will solve CritPt research-level problems end-to-end, audit solutions from other experts, or adjudicate between parallel solution attempts, producing 100%-human-verified reference data used to evaluate large language models on frontier physics reasoning. High Energy Physics & Mathematical Physics, Biophysics & Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter & AM
What You'll Do
Solve research-level physics challenges end-to-end with verifiable derivations, code, and peer-reviewed references
Decompose challenges into standalone checkpoint sub-problems that require genuine physical reasoning
Author Python answer templates with auto-grading functions for symbolic or numerical answers
Audit submitted solutions for correctness, scope, and method soundness; deliver actionable feedback across iterations
You're a Good Fit If You
Solver: PhD or postdoc in the relevant subfield (senior PhD student minimum)
Auditor: Postdoc or junior professor in the relevant subfield (PhD minimum)
Adjudicator: Full professor or industry research PI in the relevant subfield (senior postdoc or junior professor minimum)
Hands-on familiarity with at least two canonical methods of the target subfield, demonstrable through publications (broader coverage strongly preferred)
Independent contractor engagement, fully remote. Mercor pays weekly via Stripe or Wise.
Common Questions
Mercor has a reliability rating of very reliable based on the listings we track, with an onboarding time of 1-3 weeks (interview + assessment + trial). See our full Mercor review for the details behind that rating.
Applying takes you to Mercor's own website, where the application is completed. We are not a recruiter or employer and do not process applications directly - we may be recorded as the referring source.
$80-$135/h - Independent contractor engagement, fully remote. Mercor pays weekly via Stripe or Wise.
Solve research-level physics challenges end-to-end with verifiable derivations, code, and peer-reviewed references Decompose challenges into standalone checkpoint sub-problems that require genuine physical reasoning Author Python answer templates with auto-grading functions for symbolic or numerical answers
