micro1Coding & software eval
Principal Research Scientist (Computer Science / Computational Physics)
up to $400/hr
About this role, in micro1's words
micro1 is engaging Principal Research Scientist (Computer Science / Computational Physics)s to contribute to an advanced customer project at the intersection of computational theory and AI. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters. You will work with frontier AI models and agents to tackle open problems, drive research direction, and define standards for scientific breakthroughs. Your insights and rigorous approach will be pivotal in charting what counts as genuine progress within your subfield.
What you'll do
Scope of Work
- Identify, frame, and articulate foundational open problems, theoretical bounds, or simulation challenges where verifiable progress can be demonstrated.
- Guide AI models and agents in multi-step research processes—ranging from proofs and algorithms to numerical experiments and high-performance simulations.
- Critically assess and validate results, utilizing proof checks, computational reproduction, and formal methods to pinpoint the limits of model-generated reasoning.
Show all 6 itemsHide the other 3 in Scope of Work
- Evaluate and document the novelty, correctness, and significance of research outputs relative to current literature and established results.
- Produce clear, concise research memos detailing research attempts, partial solutions, and observed model limitations or failure patterns.
- Advise on research directions, recommending promising subfields and open problems suitable for advancement via AI models and computational tools.
Candidate background
Preferred Qualifications
- 7 - 10+ years of active research in computer science or mathematical/computational physics, with a strong record of scholarly contributions.
- Recognition at the field level—such as major prizes, society fellowships, or plenary/invited talks at top scholarly events.
- A consistent publication record in leading venues within your domain, with recent results published in the past year.
Show all 7 itemsHide the other 4 in Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated success resolving named open problems or introducing influential concepts adopted by peers.
- Deep, hands-on experience with computational research methods: simulation, numerical analysis, algorithmic implementation, and/or high-performance computing environments.
- Proven ability to rigorously examine technical work outside your immediate area of expertise.
- Experience on program committees, editorial boards, or with formal research tools (e.g., Lean, Coq, SAT/SMT solvers) is a strong plus, as is a public record of outlining open problems or showcasing research with advanced AI systems.
Quoted from selected sections of micro1's posting. The full posting may state other conditions. Read the full posting
A closer look
More context, when you need it.
Full job descriptionThe original posting, in micro1's words
Posted by micro1, reproduced here so you can judge the role before clicking. Original posting ↗
Role Title: Principal Research Scientist (Computer Science / Computational Physics)
Role Type: Contractor (flexible, Part-Time or Full-Time)
Location: Remote
micro1 is engaging Principal Research Scientist (Computer Science / Computational Physics)s to contribute to an advanced customer project at the intersection of computational theory and AI. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters. You will work with frontier AI models and agents to tackle open problems, drive research direction, and define standards for scientific breakthroughs. Your insights and rigorous approach will be pivotal in charting what counts as genuine progress within your subfield.
Scope of Work
• Identify, frame, and articulate foundational open problems, theoretical bounds, or simulation challenges where verifiable progress can be demonstrated.
• Guide AI models and agents in multi-step research processes—ranging from proofs and algorithms to numerical experiments and high-performance simulations.
• Critically assess and validate results, utilizing proof checks, computational reproduction, and formal methods to pinpoint the limits of model-generated reasoning.
• Evaluate and document the novelty, correctness, and significance of research outputs relative to current literature and established results.
• Produce clear, concise research memos detailing research attempts, partial solutions, and observed model limitations or failure patterns.
• Advise on research directions, recommending promising subfields and open problems suitable for advancement via AI models and computational tools.
Preferred Qualifications
• 7 - 10+ years of active research in computer science or mathematical/computational physics, with a strong record of scholarly contributions.
• Recognition at the field level—such as major prizes, society fellowships, or plenary/invited talks at top scholarly events.
• A consistent publication record in leading venues within your domain, with recent results published in the past year.
• Demonstrated success resolving named open problems or introducing influential concepts adopted by peers.
• Deep, hands-on experience with computational research methods: simulation, numerical analysis, algorithmic implementation, and/or high-performance computing environments.
• Proven ability to rigorously examine technical work outside your immediate area of expertise.
• Experience on program committees, editorial boards, or with formal research tools (e.g., Lean, Coq, SAT/SMT solvers) is a strong plus, as is a public record of outlining open problems or showcasing research with advanced AI systems.
Working with micro1Pay, getting started and work, from micro1's own pages
What the platform publishes in general. These are not extra terms confirmed for this particular role.
- Getting paid
- Paid in US dollars twice a month through Deel, usually landing around the 5th and the 20th. Nothing is paid until Deel's identity check is done. library.micro1.ai/working/faqs, library.micro1.ai/working/payroll-policy
- Before your first paid task
- An AI interview with micro1's recruiter Zara, then your profile, ID verification, a KarmaCheck background check and the Deel contract. Some pipelines add a quiz or test task. micro1.ai/experts, micro1.ai/ai-interview-guide, library.micro1.ai/getting-started/next-steps-after-certif..., library.micro1.ai/working/faqs, library.micro1.ai/working/what-to-expect
- How much work
- Certification makes you eligible but does not guarantee placement. micro1's FAQ puts the usual commitment at about 15 to 20 hours a week, depending on the client. micro1.ai/experts, library.micro1.ai/working/faqs
- Contract
- Independent contractor, with the contract issued through Deel. library.micro1.ai/policies/understanding-your-expert-agre..., library.micro1.ai/working/deel
Read on the pages linked above on 23 Sep 2026. Platforms change these terms, so check the linked page before you rely on one.
Alex's experience on micro1A personal account, not a promise about your project
Alexruns this site and has worked on micro1 himself. Written 31 Aug 2026.
- Every interview I took used an AI interviewer, and some included a timed business exercise of around 25 minutes.
- On later applications, interview reuse on micro1 was often partial, and I still answered questions about one to three additional skills.
- I entered a requested rate for the job. One listing showed about $180 an hour. I requested about $160 and received the rate I entered. Those amounts are approximate, and this describes my application, not proof that a lower request caused acceptance.
- Onboarding and setup came to about 2 hours, with clear materials. Of the three platforms I worked on, it was the easiest transition into work. That is an estimate from my projects, not a platform average.
- On my micro1 project, Hubstaff showed time and mouse or keyboard activity, not screenshots, app names or website history. That describes what I saw, not every possible setup.
- I was paid for hours logged, once every 14 days, and I have not experienced late or incorrect payments. That was my arrangement.
One person's applications, not a promise about yours.
What happens after you apply, first-handHow does the pay compare?Across Coding & software eval roles, not this role alone
From our own daily reads of every open listing on the platforms we follow, not from micro1's posting. How we count.
Pay across the field: Coding & software eval
Across 393 roles in this field with a stated hourly rate in US dollars, on 14 platforms, the middle half pays $65 to $120 an hour at the top of the range, and the median is $95. This role's top rate, $400, is in the top quarter. Of the 141 distinct rates we count, 139 are lower and 0 are higher.
| Platform | Roles | Top of range, per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alignerr | 137 | $50 to $400 · median $100 |
| micro1 (this platform) | 45 | $60 to $400 · median $120 |
| Handshake AI | 43 | $47 to $125 · median $80 |
| Meridial (Invisible) | 34 | $22 to $150 · median $60 |
| Mercor | 33 | $60 to $200 · median $105 |
Sources and listing historyWhere this information comes from
This listing's history
- First seen here on 13 Oct 2026.
- The listed pay has not changed since then.
- Posted by micro1
- First seen by AIPayList
- Last seen live
- Listing ID
- 83ed9d66-130e-4c8f-8e9f-b1d18acdcf98
Pay as the source states it: “micro1 job record, ideal_hourly_rate: $100–$400/hr”.
Platforms sometimes change a rate after posting. Every listing here is re-read at least once a day and corrected when its source moves, so a difference you see on the platform is usually a change made since the last read. How freshness works.
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