Computational Statistics Expert - PhD

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: Computational Statistics and Applied Mathematics Expert (R, Python, and Matlab/Scilab)
Type: Contract
Compensation: $70–$90/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: 15–20 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

• Design challenging computational problems using specialized statistical, mathematical, or scientific software packages.
• Evaluate AI's ability to compute reproducible numerical answers and carry out complex workflows.
• Develop problems requiring strategic planning for information discovery and efficient problem-solving.
• Test and refine problems against state-of-the-art AI models to achieve target difficulty.
• Work independently and asynchronously to refine problem designs based on feedback.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• Graduate-level training in statistics, applied mathematics, or a relevant STEM field.
• Proven proficiency with at least one specialized software package through research publications or professional work.
• Strong Python skills for writing problem setups and solution validators.
• Ability to work independently in a Linux/terminal environment with remote compute sandboxes.
• Available for at least 15–20 hours per week.

Preferred

• Experience across multiple computational domains or specialized software packages.
• Familiarity with benchmark or evaluation design.
• Background in scientific teaching or exam/problem-set design.
• Experience with computational reproducibility and containerized environments.

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.