Mercor · STEM & research

Biology Research Scientist (BA, MS, PhD's)

Listed on Mercor as “Biology Research Scientist (BA, MS, PhD's)”

$50-$70/hrRemoteContractPaid in USD

What this actually is

You design problems that stump current AI models, evaluate AI reasoning against the correct answer, write rubrics, and provide expert feedback. Often the highest-paid category because the expertise pool is small. The platform title (Biology Research Scientist (BA, MS, PhD's)) reflects the rate band and the expertise required, not the day-to-day work.

Can you do this on your visa?

F-2 / F-4 / F-5 / F-6: open. E-1 to E-7: needs concurrent-employment permit. D-2 / D-4 students: S-3 permit, 20 hr/week cap. D-10 / D-8: case by case.

Korean tax on USD income

First 5 years in Korea: foreign-source income only taxed if remitted into Korea. After year 5: worldwide income. Full tax guide.

Original posting from Mercor

About the Role

Mercor is partnering with a leading AI research organization to verify protein target assignments in large-scale bioactivity databases (ChEMBL, BindingDB). You'll read primary literature, apply scientific judgment, and determine whether UniProt IDs accurately reflect the proteins being studied - work that directly feeds AI drug discovery pipelines.

What You'll Do

Access primary sources (papers, patents) to verify protein target assignments against UniProt records

Flag and classify target assignment errors using a structured taxonomy

Propose correct UniProt accessions where assignments are wrong

Write concise, evidence-grounded notes explaining your reasoning

Requirements

BA/BS with 5+ years, MS with 2+ years, or PhD with industry or drug discovery research experience, in pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or chemical biology at a biotech, pharma, or CRO

Hands-on binding or functional assay experience (SPR, TR-FRET, radioligand binding, kinase assays, GPCR functional assays, IC50/Ki/KD)

Currently bench-active in a research, scientist, or associate scientist role

Working fluency with UniProt or adjacent workflows: SAR support, HTS, target validation, biochemical profiling, or IND-enabling studies

Nice to Have

Direct experience with ChEMBL, BindingDB, or PubChem

Selectivity profiling or counterscreening experience

Familiarity with agonist/antagonist vs. activator/inhibitor distinctions

Role Details

10-20 hrs/week | Remote | Immediate start

1-2 month minimum, extension likely

U.S. only

Quoted from Mercor’s public listing on 2026-06-02. We don’t edit platform copy; honest framing is in the title and the “what this actually is” block above.