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OpenTrainPhD

Research Scientist: Formal Methods, Computational Science

You will help evaluate how advanced AI models handle difficult expert problems. The work centers on research and evaluation rather than production engineering, using rigorous technical reasoning and clear written feedback.

Field
Math & statistics
Where
United States, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia +89 more
Asks for
PhD
Posted
6 days ago

Pay data for your profession: Math AI trainer jobs · PhD AI trainer jobs

How this pay compares

At $135/hr, this role pays more than 73% of the 54 open math & statistics roles with a listed pay range, above the median of $83.

Open math & statistics roles that ask for a PhD have a median of $83/hr (17 roles).

Among platforms with 10 or more priced math & statistics roles, Alignerr has the highest median ($185/hr across 23 roles) and OpenTrain AI the lowest ($49/hr across 26).

OpenTrain AI roles that closed since late October stayed listed a median of 31 days (122 roles). OpenTrain AI posted this one 6 days ago.

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.

What you would earn at this rate

Rate

$135/hr

Per week, before tax

$2,025

Per month, if the work is steady

$8,775

Tax
Contract pay arrives with no tax withheld. A US contractor at this rate and these hours would set aside about $2,218 a month for self-employment tax plus federal income tax at the 12% bracket (25%, before state tax). Outside the US, your own country's rules apply.

Assumes paid hours only; unpaid assessments, onboarding and gaps between projects lower the real figure. Full take-home calculator · Track what you actually earn

Open math & statistics 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
Alignerr23$185/hrApplied Formal Methods Researcher (Lean 4)$170-200/hr
Mercor4$88/hr4 pricedMathematics Domain Expert$90-140/hr
OpenTrain AIthis role26$49/hrStatistician & Experimentation Expert$80-150/hr
Handshake AI6up to $75/hrMath ExpertUp to $75/hr

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

All 60 open math & statistics roles →

The full listing

As posted on OpenTrain AI. See the original

The work

You will help evaluate how advanced AI models handle difficult expert problems. The work centers on research and evaluation rather than production engineering, using rigorous technical reasoning and clear written feedback.

  • Design realistic technical scenarios and problem sets in your area of expertise.
  • Write expert-level reference solutions and grading rubrics.
  • Evaluate AI-generated answers for correctness, depth, and sound domain judgment.
  • Write structured technical explanations that make expert decisions understandable.

What it pays and takes

This is a remote contract role for an experienced scientific or computational specialist. Work is independent and asynchronous.

  • Pay: $135 per hour.
  • Location: Remote, open to candidates in the countries listed for this role, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other listed countries.
  • Language: Professional fluency in English.
  • Education: A PhD or doctorate in a relevant scientific or computational field is required.
  • Experience: At least 10 years of experience and current or recent hands-on activity in the field.
  • Expertise: Formal methods, computational science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, or biology.
  • Skills: Strong written communication for technical explanations and structured feedback.
  • Work style: Ability to work independently, asynchronously, and remotely.
  • Helpful background includes research publications, open-source contributions, recognized domain work, peer review, code review, grading, or editing.
  • Relevant specialist experience may include formal methods or theorem proving with Lean or Coq, computational biology or genomics, or condensed-matter or quantum physics.

How it works

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

About AI training work

AI training is the human work behind systems that learn from examples, including writing questions, creating reference answers, and rating model responses. OpenTrain is a platform where people find these projects, build a profile, and apply; deep subject expertise matters because expert judgments help make AI outputs more accurate and useful.

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 $135/hr since Nov 10, 2026 with no change.

Across OpenTrain AI's math & statistics roles, the median listed pay was $25/hr on Nov 1, 2026 (18 roles) and is $49/hr as of Nov 11, 2026 (26 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 math & statistics roles

All 60 math & statistics roles →