PhD Student / Graduate

1. Role Overview Mercor is partnering with a leading AI lab to support the development of a large-scale supervised fine-tuning (SFT) dataset aimed at improving next-generation language models. We’re seeking PhDs from academic domains—including English, Philosophy, Linguistics, and related fields—to provide high-quality prompt and response data across a broad range of general knowledge tasks. This is a long-term, project-based opportunity for independent contractors to contribute to foundational AI research while working on flexible terms.

2. Key Responsibilities

• Create original prompts reflecting realistic human inquiry across generalist topics

• Review and revise model-generated responses for factuality, clarity, and alignment with expert expectations

• Write human-authored “gold” responses when needed, especially for complex or nuanced prompts

• Generate subtle prompt variations to train models on fine-grained reasoning differences

• Evaluate outputs across different response lengths, styles, and personas

• Apply domain expertise to help surface model limitations and identify edge-case failures

3. Ideal Qualifications

• PhD in a humanities or social sciences field (e.g., English, Philosophy, Linguistics, History)

• Strong analytical reading and writing skills

• Experience with critical reasoning, synthesis, or academic writing

• Meticulous attention to language, clarity, and conceptual nuance

• Comfort working independently and evaluating nuanced differences in written responses

4. More About the Opportunity

• Remote and asynchronous — set your own schedule

• Expected commitment: 10–30 hours/week

• Project duration: multi-month with potential for extensions

• All work is performed on a freelance basis with support from the Mercor platform

5. Compensation & Contract Terms

• $40/hour for generalist contributors

• Paid weekly via Stripe Connect

• You’ll be classified as an independent contractor

6. Application Process

• Submit your resume to get started

• You’ll then complete a short form to share your academic background and writing expertise

• If selected, you’ll be invited to complete a sample task as part of the qualification process

• We aim to respond within a few days of submission

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

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Contract and Payment Terms

• You will be engaged as an independent contractor.
• This is a fully remote role that can be completed on your own schedule.
• Projects can be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on needs and performance.
• Your work at Mercor will not involve access to confidential or proprietary information from any employer, client, or institution.
• Payments are weekly on Stripe or Wise based on services rendered.
• Please note: We are unable to support H1-B or STEM OPT candidates at this time.

About Mercor

Mercor partners with leading AI labs and enterprises to train frontier models using human expertise. You will work on projects that focus on training and enhancing AI systems. You will be paid competitively, collaborate with leading researchers, and help shape the next generation of AI systems in your area of expertise.