Chemistry PhD - Safety Specialist

Mercor; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 105,000; Part time

Job summary

Obsidian, located in New York, is seeking PhD-level chemists to enhance the safety of advanced AI models. You will write expert-level prompts related to chemistry, evaluate model outputs for accuracy, and apply structured guidelines meticulously.

The role is part-time, offering 15-25 flexible hours per week, potentially up to 40 hours. Ideal candidates should have a PhD in a relevant field, strong scientific reasoning, and familiarity with safety concerns in chemistry.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry or related field, ongoing or completed.
• Familiarity with modern laboratory techniques.
• Strong scientific reasoning and writing abilities.

Responsibilities

• Write expert-level prompts across specialized chemistry topics.
• Evaluate model responses for scientific accuracy.
• Classify prompts and conversations using structured guidelines.

Skills

Scientific reasoning

Writing in English

Chemical safety judgment

Education

PhD in chemistry or closely related field

Job description

About the role

We're hiring PhD‑level chemists to help make advanced AI models safer. You'll apply your scientific expertise to evaluate and strengthen how these models handle specialized chemistry topics. No prior AI/ML experience is required — we'll train you on the workflow.

What you'll do

• Write expert‑level prompts across specialized chemistry topics.
• Evaluate and annotate model responses for scientific accuracy, helpfulness, and appropriate handling of sensitive content.
• Apply structured guidelines to classify prompts and conversations.

What we're looking for

• A PhD in chemistry or a closely related field — ongoing or completed (e.g., organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, medicinal, or computational chemistry; chemical engineering; materials science).
• Deep familiarity with modern laboratory and computational techniques in your subfield.
• Strong scientific reasoning and writing in English.
• Sound judgment around chemical safety and the responsible handling of dual‑use information.

Nice to have

• Research or coursework touching on chemical safety/security, synthesis, or hazardous‑materials handling.
• Experience reviewing, grading, or red‑teaming technical content.

Project Timeline

• Start date: Immediate
• Commitment: Part‑time (15–25 hours/week, with flexibility up to 40 hours/week)