All AI training jobs

Mercor · STEM & research

ML Research PhD Experts (ICML / NeurIPS / ICLR Publications)

Listed on Mercor as “ML Research PhD Experts (ICML / NeurIPS / ICLR Publications)

$60-$100/hrRemoteContractPaid in USD
ShareWhatsAppTelegramEmail

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 (ML Research PhD Experts (ICML / NeurIPS / ICLR Publications)) 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

Overview

We're looking to rapidly assemble a small group of world-class machine learning researchers for an initial pilot. This is a high-priority engagement with an accelerated timeline, so both exceptional candidate quality and fast turnaround are critical. We're specifically seeking researchers with demonstrated contributions to frontier ML research, particularly those driving algorithmic innovation rather than applied analytics.

Candidate Requirements

Required Qualifications

  • PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, or a closely related field
  • Published at least one main conference paper at ICML, NeurIPS, or ICLR
  • Strong preference for candidates with 2+ publications at these venues
  • Demonstrated experience conducting original ML research

Preferred Research Areas

  • Reinforcement Learning (RL)
  • Meta-Learning
  • Recursive Self-Improvement
  • AI for Science (e.g. weather forecasting, protein modeling, scientific discovery)

Timeline

Priority: Urgent

Expected Schedule

  • Initial data/results: Monday / Tuesday 27th July

Success Criteria

Candidates should have a proven record of advancing state-of-the-art machine learning through publications at top-tier conferences and possess deep expertise in frontier ML research. Speed of sourcing is important, but quality should not be compromised.

Quoted from Mercor’s public listing on 2026-08-04. We don’t edit platform copy; honest framing is in the title and the “what this actually is” block above.