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Remote Physics Research Assistant Jobs in California

Mercor

Physics Research Expert - PhD

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$80 - $140/hr

Remote Commitment: ~10 hours/week Role Responsibilities * Solve research-level physics challenges end-to-end with verifiable derivations, code, and peer-reviewed references. * Decompose challenges ...

YLabs

Research Assistant

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$21 - $29/hr

JOB SUMMARY We are seeking a Research Assistant to support our Climate x SRHR project and to ... This is a part-time role (10-20 hours/week), fully remote, contractor position reporting to the ...

Mercor

Physics PhD - Theoretical Expert

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$70 - $180/hr

Remote Role Responsibilities * Solve and evaluate challenging physics problems across various ... Collaborate asynchronously with AI research teams to improve AI systems' reasoning capabilities

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Remote Physics Research Assistant information

What is a remote physics research assistant?

Remote Physics Research Assistants are individuals who support physics research projects while working from a location outside of a traditional laboratory or campus, often from home. They assist with data analysis, literature reviews, computational modeling, and preparing reports or presentations. These roles rely heavily on digital communication and online collaboration tools, allowing assistants to contribute to scientific progress without being physically present. Remote research assistants often work with professors, research teams, or organizations on a contract or part-time basis. This flexibility makes it possible for more people to gain research experience and contribute to projects from anywhere in the world.

How does a remote physics research assistant typically collaborate with principal investigators and team members when working off-site?

Remote Physics Research Assistants regularly engage with principal investigators and fellow researchers through scheduled virtual meetings, collaborative online platforms, and real-time communication tools. While much of the data analysis or literature review is done independently, sharing findings, discussing methodologies, and troubleshooting are highly interactive processes. Clear communication and proactive updates are key to ensuring alignment on research objectives and deadlines. Most teams use shared drives and version control software to maintain transparency and track project progress, fostering a supportive and cohesive remote work environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a remote physics research assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Physics Research Assistant, you need a strong background in physics, data analysis, and research methodologies, typically supported by at least a bachelor's degree in physics or a related field. Familiarity with technical tools such as Python, MATLAB, LaTeX, and remote collaboration platforms (e.g., Zoom, Slack), as well as experience with scientific databases, is often required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective written and verbal communication are critical soft skills for excelling in this remote and collaborative role. These skills are crucial for conducting accurate research, efficiently sharing results, and contributing to a distributed scientific team.

What are popular job titles related to Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs in California?

For Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs?

Cities in California with the most Remote Physics Research Assistant job openings:

Remote Physics Research Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Remote Physics Research Assistant job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Physics Research Expert - PhD

Mercor

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$80 - $140/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 20 days ago

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: Research Physics Expert
Type: Contract
Compensation: $80–$140/hour
Location: Remote
Commitment: ~10 hours/week

Role Responsibilities

  • Solve research-level physics challenges end-to-end with verifiable derivations, code, and peer-reviewed references.
  • Decompose challenges into standalone checkpoint sub-problems requiring genuine physical reasoning.
  • Author Python answer templates with auto-grading functions for symbolic or numerical answers.
  • Audit submitted solutions for correctness, scope, and method soundness; deliver actionable feedback across iterations.
  • Adjudicate between parallel solver attempts and decide which solution becomes the golden reference.
  • Document chain-of-thought reasoning, error tolerances, equivalent symbolic forms, and verification test cases.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • PhD or postdoc in the relevant subfield (senior PhD student minimum).
  • Postdoc or junior professor in the relevant subfield (PhD minimum).
  • Full professor or industry research PI in the relevant subfield (senior postdoc or junior professor minimum).
  • Hands-on familiarity with at least two canonical methods of the target subfield, demonstrable through publications.
  • 3–5 representative publications (arXiv ID or DOI), ideally within the last ~5 years and in the target subfield.
  • Working proficiency with LaTeX, Python, Jupyter, and SymPy.
  • Strong written English (B2/C1/C2 minimum; native or near-native preferred).

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: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.