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

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.