PhD-Level Computational Biologist — Design Data-Centric Benchmarks for AI Models

1. Role Overview

Mercor is seeking computational biology experts to contribute to a unique project with a top-tier AI research organization. This short-term initiative challenges AI models with hidden-answer “mystery problems” grounded in real biological data. Experts will design, validate, and anonymize complex datasets to evaluate model reasoning capabilities, not lookup accuracy. This is a compelling opportunity for data-driven life scientists to shape next-generation AI evaluation benchmarks.

2. Key Responsibilities

• Design biologically grounded problems with a single correct answer and ≥20 plausible distractors

• Identify, download, and preprocess datasets from public repositories (e.g., GEO, SRA, NCBI)

• Subsample and anonymize datasets to prevent metadata-based inference

• Independently validate solutions through custom analysis pipelines and visualizations

• Operate within technical constraints (e.g., file size, task time limits)

3. Ideal Qualifications

• Hands-on experience analyzing sequencing or omics datasets (e.g., RNA-seq, WGS, mass spec)

• Proficient with bioinformatics tools and formats (e.g., BLAST, samtools, DESeq2, FASTA/FASTQ/BAM)

• Comfortable coding in Python, R, or bash, and working in Jupyter notebooks

• Understanding of biological experiment design and lab-to-data nuances (e.g., batch effects)

• Advanced degree (MS, PhD) or research background in computational biology, genomics, or bioinformatics

4. More About the Opportunity

• Remote and asynchronous — set your own schedule

• Expected commitment: 15–20 hours/week

• Project duration: ~1 month

• Potential for additional projects based on performance and interest

5. Compensation & Contract Terms

• $65–85/hour depending on experience and geography

• Paid weekly via Stripe Connect

• Structured as a freelance contract — independent contractor status

6. Application Process

• Submit your resume to get started

• Qualified applicants will complete a short form assessing technical experience

• Follow-up steps may include a sample task or review call

• Responses typically within 3–5 business days

7. About Mercor

• Mercor is a talent marketplace that connects top experts with leading AI labs and research organizations.

• Our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Adam D’Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

• Thousands of professionals across domains like law, creatives, engineering, and research have joined Mercor to work on frontier projects shaping the next era of AI.