ML Research PhD Experts (ICML / NeurIPS / ICLR Publications)

Overview

We're looking to rapidly assemble a small group of world-class machine learning researchers for an initial pilot. This is a high-priority engagement with an accelerated timeline, so both exceptional candidate quality and fast turnaround are critical. We're specifically seeking researchers with demonstrated contributions to frontier ML research, particularly those driving algorithmic innovation rather than applied analytics.

Candidate Requirements

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, or a closely related field

• Published at least one main conference paper at ICML, NeurIPS, or ICLR

• Strong preference for candidates with 2+ publications at these venues

• Demonstrated experience conducting original ML research

Preferred Research Areas

• Reinforcement Learning (RL)

• Meta-Learning

• Recursive Self-Improvement

• AI for Science (e.g. weather forecasting, protein modeling, scientific discovery)

Timeline

Priority: Urgent

Expected Schedule

• Initial data/results: Monday / Tuesday 27th July

Success Criteria

Candidates should have a proven record of advancing state-of-the-art machine learning through publications at top-tier conferences and possess deep expertise in frontier ML research. Speed of sourcing is important, but quality should not be compromised.

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.