Life Sciences Research Scientist (PhD): Wet Lab & Computational Biology

Confidential; United States; Remote; USD 83,000 - 165,000; Part time

Job summary

Zekai is seeking a Life Sciences Research Scientist (PhD) to contribute to training AI systems in a fully remote contract role. You will work across wet-lab and computational biology, shaping how models learn, reason, and perform using high-quality real-world input.

Responsibilities include designing advanced life-science problems, reviewing model outputs for scientific rigor, and creating rubrics grounded in primary literature.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology, molecular biology, genetics, genomics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, computational biology, immunology, neuroscience or microbiology.
• Hands-on laboratory research experience in academia or industry.
• Professional written and spoken English (C1 or higher).

Responsibilities

• Design and write challenging, expert-level life sciences problems with clear solutions.
• Review AI model outputs for scientific accuracy and depth of reasoning.
• Develop rubrics and reference answers grounded in primary literature.
• Bridge experimental and computational perspectives in analysis and interpretation.
• Provide clear written explanations of reasoning for peer validation.
• Meet quality standards through iterative feedback and peer review.

Skills

Hands-on research experience

English proficiency (C1+)

Scientific reasoning and critical e"v

Education

PhD in Life Sciences (Biology / Genomics / Bioinformatics, etc.)

Job description

Job Title: Life Sciences Research Scientist (PhD): Wet Lab & Computational Biology

Job Type: Contractor

Location: Remote(Worldwide)

Job Summary: In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and write challenging, expert-level scientific problems in the life sciences, with clear, verifiable solutions.
• Review and evaluate AI model outputs for scientific accuracy, rigor, and depth of reasoning, catching subtle errors that non-specialists would miss.
• Develop detailed rubrics and reference answers grounded in primary literature and established experimental and computational methodology.
• Apply your domain expertise in areas such as genomics, transcriptomics and single-cell/spatial omics, epigenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, microbiome and metagenomics, structural biology, drug discovery, systems biology, and clinical/translational research.
• Bridge experimental and computational perspectives: assess whether a proposed experiment, analysis pipeline, or interpretation is scientifically sound.
• Provide clear written explanations of your reasoning so other experts can follow and validate it.
• Meet quality standards through iterative feedback and peer review.

Required Qualifications (MUST)

• Completed PhD in Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Microbiology, or a closely related life science field.
• Hands-on research experience in an academic, institutional, or industry research laboratory.
• Professional written and spoken English (C1 or higher).

Strongly Preferred

• Wet lab experience: you have personally performed experiments (e.g., PCR/qPCR, cell culture, sequencing library prep, Western blot, protein purification, LC-MS sample prep, CRISPR workflows).
• Academic research experience: postdoctoral position, staff scientist, research faculty, or equivalent.
• Peer-reviewed publications, ideally as first or corresponding author.
• PhD from a top research university (US, UK, or other leading institutions).

This is a 100% remote contract role, open to applicants worldwide in the countries the employer accepts.