Chemistry Phd - Synthetic Specialist

Mercor; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 103,000; Part time

Job summary

Mercor is seeking a Chemistry Specialist for Synthetic & Analytical Chemistry on a contract basis. This remote role supports AI-driven chemistry research, involving design of benchmarks, evaluation of model outputs, and development of data-quality standards.

Applicants should have a PhD in chemistry and substantial hands-on synthesis experience. The position requires up to 20 hours per week, with strong analytical skills in NMR, MS, IR, and HPLC/LC‑MS, plus familiarity with cheminformatics and

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry or equivalent research experience.
• 3+ years of hands‑on chemistry experience.
• Hands‑on experience in small‑molecule synthesis and optimizing reactions.
• Practical experience with analytical techniques like NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, and HPLC/LC‑MS.
• Comfortable using cheminformatics and scientific AI tools.
• Ability to engage reliably for at least 20 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Guide research and engineering teams to close knowledge gaps and improve AI model performance in synthetic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, and structure elucidation.
• Design challenging, non-searchable chemistry tasks, benchmarks, and training data. Write accurate, well-structured solutions to problems like multi-step route design and reaction optimization.
• Evaluate AI model outputs and step-by-step reasoning on chemistry tasks. Diagnose errors in chemical logic and provide clear, written technical feedback.
• Develop specifications, grading rubrics, and verification processes for chemistry data. Act as the domain authority on data quality.
• Advise on experimental design, common lab failure modes, and the chemical validity of model outputs, including molecular representations such as SMILES.
• Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in training data.

Skills

Written communication

Time management

Education

PhD in chemistry

Tools

NMR

Mass spectrometry

IR

HPLC/LC-MS

Cheminformatics tools

AI tools

SMILES/SMARTS

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position

Position: Chemistry Specialist, Synthetic & Analytical Chemistry

Type: Contract

Compensation: $70–$100/hour

Location: Remote

Role Responsibilities

• Guide research and engineering teams to close knowledge gaps and improve AI model performance in synthetic chemistry, reaction mechanisms, and structure elucidation.
• Design challenging, non-searchable chemistry tasks, benchmarks, and training data. Write accurate, well-structured solutions to problems like multi-step route design and reaction optimization.
• Evaluate AI model outputs and step-by-step reasoning on chemistry tasks. Diagnose errors in chemical logic and provide clear, written technical feedback.
• Develop specifications, grading rubrics, and verification processes for chemistry data. Act as the domain authority on data quality.
• Advise on experimental design, common lab failure modes, and the chemical validity of model outputs, including molecular representations such as SMILES.
• Collaborate with other subject matter experts to ensure consistency and accuracy in training data.

Qualifications

Must-Have

• PhD in chemistry or equivalent research experience.
• 3+ years of hands‑on chemistry experience at a recognized organization.
• Hands‑on experience in small‑molecule synthesis and optimizing reactions.
• Practical experience with analytical techniques like NMR, mass spectrometry, IR, and HPLC/LC-MS.
• Comfortable using cheminformatics and scientific AI tools.
• Ability to engage reliably for at least 20 hours/week during weekdays.
• Strong written communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience with cheminformatics representations (SMILES/SMARTS).
• Experience writing grading rubrics or designing benchmarks.

Resources & Support

• For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
• For any help or support, reach out to: [e-mail]