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OpenTrainPhD

Algorithms and Theory Researcher (Research Coding Tasks)

You will create self-contained technical tasks in algorithms and theory to help evaluate AI models. You will also develop or use reference implementations, which show a correct and usable solution, and review model outputs for correctness, rigor, and research quality.

Field
Software & coding
Where
United States, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia +89 more
Asks for
PhD
Posted
yesterday

Pay data for your profession: Software engineer AI trainer jobs · PhD AI trainer jobs

How this pay compares

Open software & coding roles that ask for a PhD have a median of $85/hr (13 roles).

Among platforms with 10 or more priced software & coding roles, Mercor has the highest median ($88/hr across 18 roles) and OpenTrain AI the lowest ($65/hr across 107).

OpenTrain AI roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 31 days (122 roles). OpenTrain AI posted this one yesterday.

Computed from 2,746 open roles we track across Mercor, micro1, Handshake AI, Alignerr, Appen and OpenTrain AI, refreshed daily. Midpoints of listed ranges; “up to” ceilings are left out of medians.

Open software & coding roles on each platform

The same kind of work, priced on every platform we track, with the best-paid open role on each.

PlatformOpenMedianBest-paid open role
Mercor20$88/hrLegacy Codebase Migration Expert$200/hr
micro125$75/hrStrategic Project Lead, Coding/SWE$300k-500k/yr
Alignerr73$70/hrDevOps / IaC Engineer$90-120/hr
OpenTrain AIthis role123$65/hrSoftware Engineer, AI Code Evaluation$200/hr
Handshake AI10up to $90/hrSenior Software Engineer - AI Data (US)Up to $150/hr

“Up to” rows list only ceilings, so their median is a maximum, not comparable with the range midpoints above them.

All 251 open software & coding roles →

The full listing

As posted on OpenTrain AI. See the original

The work

You will create self-contained technical tasks in algorithms and theory to help evaluate AI models. You will also develop or use reference implementations, which show a correct and usable solution, and review model outputs for correctness, rigor, and research quality.

The work covers areas such as graph, approximation, streaming, and online algorithms. You will work asynchronously with a project lead to clarify task scope, maintain a high technical standard, and provide precise feedback that connects theory with working code.

  • Build research coding tasks based on your algorithms research area.
  • Develop or work with reference implementations for algorithms problems.
  • Review AI model outputs for algorithmic reasoning, correctness, and implementation quality.
  • Complete self-contained tasks through an asynchronous workflow that can fit around ongoing research.

What it pays and takes

This role is suited to researchers and research engineers who publish their work and release usable research code.

  • Pay: $200 per approved task.
  • Task length: Each self-contained task takes about four hours.
  • Work arrangement: Fully remote, asynchronous contract work.
  • Location: Open to candidates in the countries specified for this role.
  • Language: Professional fluency in English.
  • Required: A completed or in-progress PhD in computer science or a related field.
  • Required: Published research in algorithms at venues such as SODA, STOC, FOCS, ESA, ICALP, or comparable venues.
  • Required: Research code released through GitHub or another accessible research artifact.
  • Required: Ability to assess algorithmic reasoning, correctness, and implementation quality.
  • Helpful: First-author publications and depth in graph, approximation, streaming, or online algorithms.
  • Helpful: Experience with Docker or reproducible research environments.

How it works

Apply on OpenTrain with your resume, then complete the application on the hiring site.

About AI training work

OpenTrain is a platform where people find AI training and data-labeling projects, build a profile, and apply. AI training work uses human-written examples, reviews, and evaluations to help improve artificial intelligence systems.

From applying to your first payment on OpenTrain AI

  1. 1

    Create a profile

    Create a free OpenTrain profile with your domains, languages and hourly rate.

  2. 2

    Apply

    Apply to the listing. Some listings hire through OpenTrain; others send you to the hiring platform.

  3. 3

    Funded milestones

    The client funds each milestone before work starts.

  4. 4

    First payment

    OpenTrain pays out to your connected payout method when the client approves the milestone. It doesn't publish a fixed payout schedule.

Sources: OpenTrain: AI training careers, OpenTrain docs: invoicing and payouts

Full OpenTrain AI profile: watch-outs and the public record →

Pay history

OpenTrain AI has listed this role at $200 per task since Nov 10, 2026 with no change.

Across OpenTrain AI's software & coding roles, the median listed pay was $65/hr on Nov 1, 2026 (72 roles) and is $65/hr as of Nov 11, 2026 (107 roles).

What workers report about OpenTrain AI

Anonymous reports from people who applied or worked there: whether they got work, what they were paid and how fast.

Other software & coding roles

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