Biology PhD - AI Safety Expert

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Biology Expert (PhD) — AI Safety
Type: Contract
Compensation: $65–$70/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 15–25 hours/week, with flexibility up to 40 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Write expert-level prompts across specialized life-science topics to enhance model understanding.
• Evaluate and annotate model responses for scientific accuracy and appropriate handling of sensitive content.
• Apply structured guidelines to classify prompts and conversations effectively.
• Strengthen AI models' handling of life-science topics by applying scientific expertise.
• Work independently and asynchronously to meet deadlines while improving model safety.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• PhD in biology or a closely related life-science field (ongoing or completed).
• Deep familiarity with modern laboratory and computational techniques.
• Strong scientific reasoning and writing in English.
• Sound judgment around biosecurity and responsible handling of dual-use information.

Preferred

• Research or coursework on biosafety/biosecurity, pathogen biology, or gain-of-function considerations.
• Experience reviewing, grading, or red-teaming technical content.

Start Date

• Immediate

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

• Upload resume
• AI interview based on your resume
• Submit form

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
• For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.