Chemistry Researcher for AI Model Training

Contribute expert, research-level chemistry judgment to train and evaluate next-generation AI systems that reason about organic synthesis, mechanism, catalysis, structural and physical chemistry, chemical biology, computational and theoretical chemistry, and materials. This part-time role places senior chemistry researchers within a leading AI lab''s extended workforce to author problems, review literature, and identify model failure modes at the level of a practicing research chemist.

• Review and evaluate chemistry research papers for technical correctness, novelty, and scientific significance.
• Author and critique challenging, research‑grade chemistry problems used to train and evaluate frontier AI models.
• Evaluate model outputs on tasks such as retrosynthesis, mechanism prediction, spectral interpretation, computational chemistry, and literature reasoning.
• Identify and document model failure modes, especially mistakes an experienced PhD chemist would spot immediately.
• Collaborate with a small program team and other senior contributors on problem design, evaluation criteria, and reporting.

Applicants should meet several of the following; exceptional candidates who demonstrate deep research output are encouraged regardless of years of experience.

• First-author or co-first-author publications in leading journals, for example JACS, Nature Chemistry, Science, Nature, Angewandte Chemie, Nature Catalysis, ACS Catalysis, Chem (Cell Press), Chemical Reviews, Chem Soc Rev, Journal of Organic Chemistry, Organic Letters, Inorganic Chemistry, or Nature Communications.
• Doctorate or postdoctoral training from a top-20 global institution in chemistry or a related STEM field.
• Receipt of a competitive fellowship or award, for example NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Hertz Fellowship, Sloan Research Fellowship, Camille and Henry Dreyfus award, Searle Scholar, Pew Scholar, Beckman Young Investigator award, NIH F32/NRSA, Damon Runyon, Helen Hay Whitney, Marie Curie, Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, Schmidt Science Fellowship, NSF CAREER, or DOE Early Career award.
• Issued patents, a spin-out company, or grants held as a named Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator.
• An International Chemistry Olympiad medal, Gold, Silver, or Bronze.
• Current or recent active research experience, for example as a PhD candidate, postdoctoral researcher, instructor, faculty member, principal scientist, or industry researcher.

• Location: Remote.
• Engagement: Part-time, up to 20 hours per week.
• Placement: This role is staffed into a leading AI laboratory as part of their extended workforce.
• Employment model: You will be employed on W-2 by Cincinnatus LLC, which serves as the employer of record and administers payroll, onboarding, and compliance while placing employees directly on client teams.

• Hourly rate: $80 to $110 per hour.
• Final compensation within this range will reflect research seniority and credentials.

Recruitment is for a selective cohort of senior chemistry researchers whose work sits at the research frontier. Selection and placement are competitive and based on fit with partner lab needs and the technical scope of active projects.

Apply through the posted opportunity. Candidates who advance will be contacted with next steps, which include evaluation of research outputs and fit with the program. If selected, Cincinnatus LLC will manage employment, onboarding, payroll, and benefits and place you into the client team.

Cincinnatus LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to legally protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans. Cincinnatus LLC is a separate legal employer and will administer employment-related functions for this engagement.