Physics Expert (Gravitation / Cosmology / Astrophysics)

What you'll do

One seat, on a narrowly scoped theoretical gravity benchmark. The customer is assembling research-level problems across dynamical Chern-Simons gravity, the Palatini tetrad formalism, FRW cosmology and quadratic inflation, and needs someone who can both derive and compute.

The listed work:

• Analytical and numerical solutions in first-order Palatini gravity, using tetrads and spin connections
• Calculating Pontryagin density contributions and what they imply for extended gravity theories
• Formulating, solving and interpreting Friedmann equations with torsion
• Integrating coupled nonlinear ODEs and critically checking the results
• Working consistently in Planck units throughout

You may be placed as a Solver, Auditor or Adjudicator depending on your subfield experience. The ad does not define the three; by the usual benchmark pattern, a solver writes the reference solution, an auditor checks it independently and an adjudicator settles disputes.

This combination (first-order formalism plus a numerical cosmology pipeline) is characteristic of torsion and Chern-Simons cosmology papers, so the natural applicant has published in that corner rather than general relativity broadly.

Who fits

• A PhD or equivalent in physics, with emphasis on gravitation, cosmology or astrophysics
• Hands-on experience with first-order Palatini gravity, tetrad and spin connection formalisms and higher-order curvature corrections
• Deriving, solving and interpreting nonlinear ODE systems in cosmology and gravitational physics
• Familiarity with the Pontryagin density, Chern-Simons modifications and their physical meaning
• Demonstrated use of Planck-unit normalisation in theoretical models

Observational astrophysicists will find little here despite the title; the work is theory and numerics.

What it pays

$80–160/hour, micro1's published band and the same as most of its subfield physics listings. No compensation structure, weekly hours or duration is stated.

Worth knowing

Good:

• A rare paid outlet for modified-gravity and torsion cosmology expertise
• Clearly scoped topics: easy to judge your own fit
• No country restriction stated, and no AI experience needed

Less good:

• One opening, posted two months ago, so it may already be filled; check before investing time in an application
• Extremely narrow within gravitation
• A 2x band with no stated basis for placement
• No hours, duration or pay structure published
• Contractor engagement: no benefits, no notice period, your own tax to manage

About this listing

Posted by micro1 on its own jobs portal and read on 24 September 2026. The band, the single opening, the topics and the assignment roles are from the listing; the notes on who fits and the role definitions are ours. See micro1.