Earth, Ocean & Climate Science Researcher (Task Author)

AfterQuery; New Zealand; Remote; NZD 402,000 - 572,000; Full time

Job summary

AfterQuery is building a network of researchers to author and validate research-grade scientific-computing tasks for AI models. You can turn your own computational work into paid evaluation tasks, such as geophysical inversions or ocean/atmosphere models.

This flexible contract is open to Bachelor's through PhD students and recent graduates with strong coding skills. Tasks are paid at $200 per approved task, typically ~2 hours each, with no cap on the number of tasks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's student on a research track or with research experience, Master's/PhD student, postdoc, or recent graduate in geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, hydrology or related field.
• Proven ability to write code to model or analyze earth/ocean/atmospheric systems, preferably in Python.
• Ability to turn computational research into a well-specified task with reference solution and tests.

Responsibilities

• Design and author original research-grade evaluation tasks based on your own computational work.
• Specify evaluation metrics and reference solutions; avoid publishing exact passing thresholds.
• Revise tasks based on structured review feedback until approved.
• Optionally review and calibrate tasks submitted by other experts.

Skills

Python coding

Code writing

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's level or higher in geophysics/oceanography/atmospheric science

Tools

Python

Job description

Turn computational work from your own earth, ocean, or climate science research into paid evaluation tasks for AI models. Open to research-track Bachelor's students, Master's and PhD students, postdocs, and recent graduates. AfterQuery is building a network of researchers to author and validate research-grade scientific-computing tasks for AI models. A strong task is a real piece of computational work from your own research, something you've actually run and debugged: a geophysical inversion, an ocean or atmosphere model, a data-assimilation step, or a remote-sensing analysis you implemented and validated. Each task has a main problem, a few connected subproblems, a Python reference solution, and tests that check the result. The difficulty should come from the science itself, not from withheld information. We're looking for researchers in: geophysics and seismology; geodynamics; hydrology; physical oceanography and coastal dynamics; atmospheric physics and climate dynamics; numerical weather prediction and data assimilation; and geochemistry and remote sensing.

Education

Education: A Bachelor's student on a research track or with research experience (such as an REU, a thesis, or an RA or lab role), a Master's or PhD student, a postdoc, or a recent graduate in geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, hydrology, or a closely related field.

Technical Skills

Technical: Hands-on experience writing your own code, preferably Python, to model or analyze earth, ocean, or atmospheric systems. Familiarity with Python or machine learning alone isn't enough.

Work Authorization

Work authorization: Must be able to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship. Students on F-1 visas (including OPT/CPT) are not eligible.

Contract and Pay

Contract and pay: Flexible, independent-contractor work: $200 per approved task, about 2 hours each, with no cap on how many tasks you take on. Tasks go through review, and you may also review other experts' tasks against a short rubric. All accepted experts undergo standard background and identity verification.

Responsibilities

• Design and author original research-grade evaluation tasks based on your own computational work
• Specify the metrics a strong solution should be judged by, without publishing the exact passing thresholds
• Revise tasks based on structured review feedback until they're approved
• Optionally review and calibrate tasks submitted by other experts in your domain

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's student on a research track or with research experience, Master's or PhD student, postdoc, or recent graduate in geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, hydrology, or a closely related field
• Has written their own code, preferably in Python, to model or analyze earth, ocean, or atmospheric systems
• Able to turn your own computational research into a well-specified task with a reference solution and tests
• Able to work independently and manage your own time. This is flexible, task-based work with no fixed weekly schedule

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience in data assimilation, ocean or atmosphere modeling, or seismic inversion
• Public code, a thesis, or papers that show your computational work
• Prior experience in data annotation, data labeling, or AI/ML evaluation work

Why apply

• Work on your own schedule: task-based, not a fixed hourly commitment
• Contribute directly to how AI models are evaluated on real, expert-level scientific work
• Paid, flexible work: $200 per approved task (about 2 hours each), no cap on how many you take on