Life Sciences Research Specialist (Remote | )
Life Sciences Research Scientist (PhD) (Remote | $45–$90/hr) Position: Life Sciences Research Scientist (PhD) Type: Contractor Compensation: $45–$90/hour Location: Remote About the Opportunity micro1 is seeking experienced life sciences researchers with a completed PhD and hands-on laboratory research experience to contribute to projects focused on evaluating and improving advanced AI systems. In this role, you will apply your scientific expertise across experimental and computational biology to develop challenging research problems, evaluate AI-generated scientific outputs, and assess the accuracy and rigor of scientific reasoning. You will create expert-level questions, develop reference answers and grading rubrics, and identify subtle scientific errors that require specialized domain knowledge. This opportunity is ideal for researchers who combine strong experimental skills with computational expertise and a deep understanding of scientific methodology.
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop challenging, expert-level scientific problems in life sciences with clear, verifiable solutions. Review and evaluate AI-generated outputs for scientific accuracy, methodological rigor, and depth of reasoning. Develop detailed grading rubrics and reference answers grounded in primary literature and established experimental and computational methods. Apply domain expertise across genomics, transcriptomics, single-cell and spatial omics, epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome research, metagenomics, structural biology, drug discovery, systems biology, and clinical or translational research. Evaluate whether proposed experiments, computational pipelines, data analyses, and scientific interpretations are methodologically sound. Bridge experimental and computational perspectives to assess the validity of scientific conclusions. Provide clear, structured written explanations of scientific reasoning so other experts can review and validate the results. Incorporate iterative feedback and peer review to meet project quality standards.
Required Qualifications
Completed PhD in Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Genomics, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Microbiology, or a closely related life sciences discipline. Hands-on research experience in an academic, institutional, or industry laboratory. Strong understanding of experimental design, scientific methodology, data interpretation, and research validation. Professional written and spoken English proficiency at C1 level or higher. Strong analytical reasoning, problem-solving, scientific writing, and attention to detail. Ability to evaluate complex scientific questions and communicate evidence-based conclusions clearly.
Preferred Qualifications
Practical wet-lab experience performing experiments such as PCR/qPCR, cell culture, sequencing library preparation, Western blotting, protein purification, LC-MS sample preparation, or CRISPR workflows. Experience in computational biology, bioinformatics, molecular simulations, computational chemistry, or scientific programming. Familiarity with Python and scientific computing tools, including Gaussian, GROMACS, LAMMPS, AMBER, ORCA, or Psi4, where relevant to the candidate's research area. Knowledge of cheminformatics, electronic structure methods, molecular dynamics, drug discovery, or AI/ML-assisted chemistry workflows. Postdoctoral experience, staff scientist experience, research faculty appointments, or equivalent advanced research experience. Peer-reviewed publications, preferably as a first or corresponding author. PhD from a leading research university in the United States, United Kingdom, or another recognized research institution. Experience evaluating AI-generated scientific content or computational research outputs is beneficial but not required. Compensation & Engagement Compensation: $45–$90 per hour. Engagement Type: Contractor. Work Arrangement: Fully remote