Materials Science Expert

What you'll do

You build hard problems from your own corner of materials science, the kind where a textbook method falls short and a reasonable-looking answer turns out wrong once the constraints are read properly. Areas named include structure-property work, processing, characterization, failure analysis and computational materials, and each problem comes with realistic constraints and data.

You then write the correct solution with its reasoning, plus grading criteria objective enough that a second expert would come to an identical conclusion. You also check problems written by other contributors for accuracy and method, and you flag ones that turn out ambiguous or impossible to grade instead of submitting them. micro1 describes the commitment as flexible enough to sit next to a current job, and the work is fully remote.

What you need

• A master's or doctorate, in materials science itself or a neighbouring discipline; the ad gives metallurgy, ceramics, polymers and condensed matter physics as examples
• Senior standing: a principal, staff or fellow title in industrial R&D or at a national lab, or a faculty post at a top university
• Deep expertise in a subdomain where you have led the work yourself
• The ability to show why an answer holds, clearly enough for another scientist to check it

A history of publications, patents or technical leadership counts strongly in your favour. Experience evaluating AI or LLM output helps but is optional.

What it pays

The listing header gives $85–185/hour, while the snapshot block further down says $80–185; we publish the header figure. The ad does not explain how a rate inside the band is set, or whether time is billed hourly or per accepted problem. micro1's company page notes that at least one of its listings pays per task that meets the specification, so ask which model applies here before you start.

Worth knowing

Good:

• Up to $185/hour at the top of the band
• A flexible commitment meant to fit alongside a current role
• The ad spells out the selection steps, so you know what is coming

Less good:

• The bar (a principal-level industry role or a faculty post) rules out most early-career scientists
• The pay basis, hourly or per problem, is not stated
• Five openings, and the customer is not named

About this listing

Posted by micro1 on its jobs portal, marked high demand, and checked on 1 November 2026. No country restriction is stated, so we left eligibility open, subject to the 21 countries micro1's company page says it cannot hire from. See micro1.

How to get hired

• Screening: this ad sets out four steps: screening questions, an AI interview (which the ad describes as the way your expertise reaches the client), a profile review, and onboarding with the Talent Ops team.
• Put first on your profile: your highest title (principal, staff, fellow or faculty), the subdomain you own, and one paper or patent you can sum up in a line.
• Prepare: write one problem from your own work with its constraints, answer and grading rule, then have a colleague solve it cold and see whether they land on your answer.
• Read first: our micro1 interview questions guide covers what the AI interview asks.