Computational Chemistry Researcher (Task Author)

What you'll do

You convert chemistry calculations you have actually run into evaluation tasks for AI models. The ad's examples are an electronic-structure or molecular-dynamics workflow, a kinetics model, a spectroscopy fit, or a thermodynamics calculation you implemented and validated. A task has a main problem, a few connected subproblems, a Python reference solution and tests that check the result, and the ad says the difficulty should come from the chemistry rather than withheld information.

Beyond writing tasks you define the metrics a strong solution should be judged by (without publishing exact passing thresholds), revise against structured review feedback until approval, and can optionally review and calibrate other experts' tasks.

The research areas listed: quantum chemistry and electronic structure; molecular simulation and statistical mechanics; chemical kinetics and reaction dynamics; spectroscopy and photochemistry; electrochemistry; catalysis and surface chemistry; chemometrics and analytical modelling; biophysical chemistry; atmospheric and environmental chemistry; and chemical thermodynamics.

Who fits

• A research-track Bachelor's student (REU, thesis, RA or lab role), Master's or PhD student, postdoc or recent graduate in chemistry, chemical physics, chemical engineering or a closely related field
• Hands-on experience writing your own code, preferably Python, to set up, run and analyse chemical calculations or models; the ad says running standard packages such as Gaussian or VASP without your own scripting is not enough
• Able to turn your research into a well-specified task with a reference solution and tests, and to manage your own time
• Preferred: research in chemical kinetics, spectroscopy, electrochemistry or catalysis modelling; public code, a thesis or papers; prior annotation, labelling or AI/ML evaluation experience
• Must be able to work as an independent contractor without visa sponsorship; F-1 students (including OPT/CPT) are not eligible

What it pays

The board headlines $100/hr. The ad pays $200 per approved task, about 2 hours each, with no cap on the number of tasks. Because pay depends on approval, a task that needs several rounds of revision lowers your effective rate.

The ad does not publish its payment terms (payout timing, minimum hours); see the AfterQuery company page for how AfterQuery pays contractors.

What applying involves

The form asks, all as required fields, for your institutional affiliation(s), current degree programme, year and field, a link to research code you have written, your work authorization, and a calculation from your research that could become a task. The ad says all accepted experts undergo standard background and identity verification.

Worth knowing

Good:

• Flexible, task-based work with no weekly schedule and no cap
• Open to research-track undergraduates and recent graduates
• The listed specialities cover most of physical chemistry, so many research backgrounds can find an angle

Less good:

• Per-task pay means unapproved work earns nothing
• Scripting skills are required; relying on packages alone does not qualify
• Students on F-1 visas (including OPT/CPT) are excluded and there is no visa sponsorship
• You must show research code and a candidate calculation in the application

About this listing

Read from the AfterQuery Experts board on 18 October 2026; the board posting is dated 16 October 2026. Pay and eligibility are AfterQuery's own text. See AfterQuery.