Physics Expert - Remote

YO AI Labs; United States; Remote; USD 165,000 - 331,000; Full time

Job summary

YO AI Labs is seeking an established Physics Professor/PI to provide high-level scientific expertise for AI-system evaluation. Remote contractor role focusing on evaluating physics arguments, testing claims with rigorous judgments, and drafting defensible written analyses for senior physics professionals.

The role emphasizes leadership in research judgment, awareness of uncertainties, and clear communication using tools like LaTeX, Python, and Jupyter.

Qualifications

• PhD in Physics required with demonstrated impact in a physics subfield.
• Proven leadership in independent research and scholarly output.
• Ability to articulate nuanced scientific judgments clearly and rigorously.

Responsibilities

• Adjudicate contested physics arguments within your area of expertise.
• Compare alternative approaches and explain strengths/assumptions.
• Identify meta-level criteria for evaluating robustness and validity.

Skills

Physics Mastery

Expert Judgment

Meta-Level Reasoning

Research Leadership

Defensible Written Articulation

Scientific Analysis

Technical Evaluation

Research Communication

Critical Thinking

Education

PhD in Physics

Tools

LaTeX

SymPy

Python

Jupyter

Job description

Job Title: Physics Expert – Professor / Principal Investigator

Role Type: Contractor
Location: Remote

Job Overview

We are seeking established Physics Professors and Principal Investigators to provide high-level scientific expertise for a project focused on advancing next-generation AI systems. In this role, you will apply deep subject-matter expertise to evaluate competing physics arguments, assess technical reasoning, and provide authoritative judgments on complex or ambiguous scientific questions.

The ideal candidate brings a strong record of independent research, scholarly impact, and scientific leadership. No prior AI experience is required—your physics expertise, research judgment, and ability to evaluate complex scientific reasoning are what matter most.

Scope of Work

• Adjudicate contested or competing physics arguments, solutions, and interpretations within your area of expertise.
• Compare alternative approaches to complex physics problems and explain which approach is stronger, under what assumptions, and within which applicable regimes.
• Identify and articulate meta-level criteria for evaluating the robustness, validity, and scientific soundness of competing solutions.
• Assess key assumptions, approximations, limitations, failure modes, and breaking points within technical arguments.
• Provide calibrated expert judgments, distinguishing established conclusions from genuine uncertainty, unresolved questions, or active areas of research.
• Draft rigorous, defensible written evaluations suitable for review by senior physicists and research professionals.
• Use technical tools such as LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter to verify calculations, test assumptions, or compare technical claims where appropriate.
• Clearly explain when a question remains unresolved within the field and identify the relevant scientific considerations.
• Contribute expert feedback and domain-level reasoning to support AI model training, evaluation, and improvement.

Required Skills

• Physics Mastery
• Expert Judgment in Ambiguous Cases
• Meta-Level Reasoning
• Research Leadership
• Defensible Written Articulation
• Scientific Analysis
• Technical Evaluation
• Research Communication
• Critical Thinking

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Physics with demonstrated expertise and scholarly impact in a specific physics subfield.
• Current or former Associate Professor, Full Professor, Chair Professor, Principal Investigator, or Research Group Leader with a strong record of independent research leadership.
• Active or recent research experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • High Energy Physics
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Biophysics
  • Statistical Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • AMO / Quantum Optics
  • Gravitation
  • Cosmology
  • Astrophysics
  • Quantum Information
  • Optical Properties of Materials
• 3–5 recent representative publications in the target research area, with arXiv or DOI references available.
• Experience supervising PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, or equivalent research leadership in an industry setting.
• Proficiency with LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter; candidates should be prepared to indicate any gaps in experience with these tools.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate nuanced scientific judgments clearly and rigorously.
• Demonstrated ability to distinguish between established scientific knowledge, reasonable interpretations, and genuinely unresolved questions.