AI Research Fellow - Chemistry

ACS; New York (NY); On-site; USD 83,000 - 179,000; Part time

Job summary

Handshake is seeking experienced chemists for flexible, part-time contract work to support AI research in computational, physical, or theoretical chemistry. You will evaluate AI-generated content and provide feedback to help AI reason like a practicing chemist.

This is an ongoing, project-based opportunity you can take on alongside your current role, with remote, asynchronous work and no fixed schedule.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master in Chemistry or related field; MS with pharma/materials exp qualifies.
• Proficiency across multiple quantum chemistry, MD, and cheminformatics platforms.
• Experience running production simulations or DFT pipelines in pharma/materials/energy research.

Responsibilities

• Create expert-level computational chemistry problems grounded in real simulation, modeling, and reaction workflows.
• Review AI-generated responses for technical accuracy, reproducibility, and alignment with actual work.
• Provide structured written feedback to improve AI model performance.
• Complete tasks at your own pace with no set schedule or minimum hour requirement.

Skills

Computational chemistry

AI feedback

Scientific writing

Independent work

Education

PhD in Chemistry

Master in Chemistry

Tools

Quantum chemistry platforms

Cheminformatics platforms

Job description

Opportunity Overview
Handshake is looking for experienced chemists to support AI research through flexible, part-time contract work. This is not a traditional job — you'll draw on your hands-on experience in computational, physical, or theoretical chemistry to evaluate AI-generated content and provide feedback that helps AI reason like a practicing chemist.

This is an ongoing, project-based opportunity you can take on alongside your current role.

What You'll Do

• Use your domain expertise to create expert-level computational chemistry problems and scenarios grounded in real simulation, modeling, and reaction workflows
• Review and evaluate AI-generated responses for technical accuracy, reproducibility, and alignment with how the work is actually done
• Provide structured written feedback to help improve AI model performance
• Complete tasks at your own pace with no set schedule or minimum hour requirement
  

Qualifications

• Degree — PhD or Master in Chemistry or any related field. An MS paired with pharma or materials industry experience also qualifies

Additional qualifications (not required, but strengthen your application)

• Proficiency across multiple quantum chemistry, MD, and cheminformatics platforms
• Experience running production simulation or DFT pipelines in a pharma, materials, or energy research setting

Required for all applicants

• Must have US work authorization
• Strong written communication and attention to detail
• Ability to explain complex chemistry concepts clearly
• Ability to work independently in a remote, asynchronous environment