Applied Physics

Applied Physics

Posted Today by Alignerr

Negotiable
Undetermined
Remote
Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

Summary: The role of Applied Physicist focuses on leveraging expertise in quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and thermodynamics to evaluate and enhance AI models' physical reasoning. Candidates will design advanced physics problems, author solutions, audit AI reasoning, and provide structured feedback to improve AI systems. This fully remote contract position is ideal for PhD-level researchers seeking intellectually stimulating work on a flexible schedule. No prior AI experience is required, but a deep mastery of physics is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design Advanced Physics Problems spanning quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, classical mechanics, and thermodynamics.
  • Author Gold-Standard Solutions with rigorous, step-by-step responses.
  • Audit AI Reasoning for physical consistency and identify violations of first principles.
  • Provide Structured Feedback to AI systems regarding boundary conditions and conservation laws.
  • Document Failure Modes of AI reasoning for research teams to improve models.

Key Skills:

  • PhD (completed or near-completion) in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a related field.
  • Deep mastery of Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics.
  • Exceptional analytical writing skills.
  • Precision in units, scientific notation, and logical proof flow.
  • Self-motivated and reliable in independent work.
  • Experience with data annotation or scientific dataset evaluation (nice to have).
  • Proficiency with computational tools such as MATLAB, COMSOL, Python (NumPy/SciPy) (nice to have).
  • Familiarity with AI or machine learning concepts (nice to have).

Salary (Rate): £32.00 hourly

City: Cambridge

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: remote

IR35 Status: undetermined

Seniority Level: undetermined

Industry: Other

Detailed Description From Employer:

Applied Physics (AI Training)

About The Role

What if your expertise in quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and thermodynamics could directly shape how AI understands the physical world? We're looking for PhD-level Applied Physicists to stress-test cutting-edge AI models — exposing the gaps in their physical reasoning and helping ensure they never violate the fundamental laws of the universe. This is a fully remote, flexible contract role built for researchers and academics who want to do meaningful, intellectually stimulating work on their own schedule. No prior AI experience required — just deep domain mastery and a rigorous, analytical mind.

Organization: Alignerr

Type: Hourly Contract

Location: Remote

Commitment: 10–40 hours/week

What You'll Do

  • Design Advanced Physics Problems — Craft PhD qualifying exam-level problems spanning quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, classical mechanics, and thermodynamics that demand multi-step logical reasoning and mathematical derivation
  • Author Gold-Standard Solutions — Develop rigorous, step-by-step "golden responses" where every physical constant, unit conversion, and logical step is unimpeachable
  • Audit AI Reasoning — Evaluate AI-generated proofs and simulations for physical consistency, identifying where models "hallucinate" physics that violates first principles
  • Provide Structured Feedback — Coach AI systems to reason correctly about boundary conditions, conservation laws, and real-world physical constraints
  • Document Failure Modes — Systematically record how and where AI reasoning breaks down so that research teams can build better, more physically grounded models

Who You Are

  • Holds a PhD (completed or near-completion) in Applied Physics, Physics, Engineering Physics, or a closely related field
  • Deep mastery across the core pillars: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics
  • Exceptional analytical writing skills — you can explain a complex derivation in clear, structured prose without losing rigor
  • Uncompromising precision when it comes to units, scientific notation, dimensional analysis, and the logical flow of a proof
  • Self-motivated and reliable when working independently and asynchronously
  • No prior AI or data annotation experience required

Nice to Have

  • Experience with data annotation, scientific dataset evaluation, or quality assurance for research outputs
  • Proficiency with computational tools such as MATLAB, COMSOL, Python (NumPy/SciPy), or similar
  • Background in experimental or computational physics research
  • Familiarity with AI or machine learning concepts as an end user or researcher

Why Join Us

  • Work on high-impact AI projects in collaboration with the world's leading AI research labs
  • Fully remote and flexible — work when and where it suits you, on your own schedule
  • Freelance autonomy with the intellectual depth of meaningful, research-level work
  • Gain direct exposure to how frontier large language models are trained and evaluated
  • Contribute to AI development that could shape how technology understands the physical world for decades to come
  • Potential for ongoing work and contract extension as new projects launch