Materials Science Expert
$85–185/hr
Remote science contract with micro1, $85–185/hr. Posted Oct 30.
$85–185/hr
Apply on micro1Is this job worth applying to?
- Pay
- Above typicalTops out at $185/hr. The typical top rate across 106 priced science listings is $90/hr.
- Getting in
- Some screening~30–45 min: profile + AI interview. Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview.
- Steady work
- Work is patchyLong waits between tasks are common.
- Payout record
- Some delaysSchedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments).
- Freshness
- FreshPosted 7d ago. Still listed on micro1 on Nov 6, 2026.
- Where you live
- Not statedThe listing names no country.
The job description
Opportunity Snapshot
Pay: $80- $185/hour
Commitment: Flexible — fits alongside your current role
You’ll need: Master’s or PhD in materials science or a closely related field, plus principal-level industry experience or a faculty appointment
Your tasks: Build challenging technical problems from your own domain and define what makes an answer correct
You'll be working on
The problems where the textbook answer isn’t enough, where the right approach depends on reading the constraints correctly, where a plausible-looking solution is quietly wrong. You’ll build those problems, provide the correct analysis, and define what separates a right answer from one that only looks right.
What you’ll do
- Design difficult technical problems from your own area — structure-property relationships, processing, characterization, failure analysis, computational materials — with realistic constraints and supporting data.
- Provide the correct solution and walk through the reasoning that gets there.
- Define objective criteria for correctness, so another expert reviewing the work would reach the same verdict.
- Review problems built by other contributors for technical accuracy and soundness of method.
- Flag problems that turn out to be ambiguous or ungradable rather than submitting them.
What we’re looking for
- Master’s or PhD in materials science, metallurgy, ceramics, polymer science, condensed matter physics, or a closely related field.
- Principal, staff, or fellow-level experience in industrial or national lab research, or a faculty appointment at a leading university.
- Deep technical depth in at least one materials subdomain, with hands-on ownership of the work.
- Able to explain why an answer is correct clearly enough that another scientist could verify it.
- Publications, patents, or a record of technical leadership is a strong plus.
- AI or LLM evaluation experience is a plus, but not required.
How the selection process works
- Apply and complete the screening questions
- Complete the AI interview for this role — it’s how your expertise gets in front of the client
- Profile review
- Onboarding — our Talent Ops team will get you set up
How do you apply to micro1?
Apply on micro1
The Apply button opens this post on micro1's own site. You apply with them, not with Rubric. Budget about 30–45 min: profile + AI interview.
Get through screening
What micro1 asks for after you apply:
- Do the AI interview with Zara on a computer (not a phone)
- Take any skill assessment and verify your identity
- Wait to be matched to a project and sign the contract
Start work and get paid
Pay schedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments). You're paid for the work they hand out, not a fixed salary.
micro1 also needs
- Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview
- Relevant degree or work history for expert roles
Red flags
- Red flagWeeks of silence after the AI interview
- Red flagContracts signed but no onboarding or tasks
- Red flagProjects ending or changing scope without notice
What is micro1 like to work for?
Recruiting company that vets experts with an AI interviewer (Zara) and staffs them on contract AI-training and evaluation projects for AI labs.
| Advertised pay | $15–135/hr |
|---|---|
| Getting in | Some screening |
| Application takes | ~30–45 min: profile + AI interview |
| How you get paid | Twice a month, via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments) |
| Payout record | Some delays |
| Countries | Recruits globally with heavy hiring in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe; India-based applicants are eligible for many roles. |
Generalist and annotation roles start around $15–30/hr; coding, STEM and law/medicine roles commonly list $40–90/hr and occasionally more.
