Physics Expert (High Energy / Mathematical Physics)

What you'll do

The topic is holographic Weyl anomalies: computing, from the bulk gravitational action, the trace anomaly of the boundary theory in dimensions up to eight. It is a problem where the physics is well understood and the difficulty is almost entirely in the algebra, which is exactly what makes it a good test of whether an AI model can carry a long symbolic calculation without dropping a term.

The listed work:

• Analysing research-level problems in AdS/CFT, on-shell gravitational actions and the Weyl-Fefferman-Graham gauge
• Formulating or verifying tensor algebra of boundary curvature invariants in dimensions up to 8
• Developing, reviewing or adjudicating solutions on holographic Weyl anomalies and related mathematical-physics benchmarks

Contributors may be placed as a Solver, Auditor or Adjudicator depending on subfield fit and proven hands-on experience. The ad does not define the roles; by the usual pattern, solvers produce reference solutions, auditors check them independently, and adjudicators settle disagreements.

Who fits

• Advanced expertise in high energy or mathematical physics, with direct AdS/CFT, gravitational action and holographic duality experience
• Real familiarity with Weyl anomalies, the Fefferman-Graham expansion and higher-dimensional boundary curvature invariants
• A strong command of tensor algebra and differential geometry
• The ability to explain complex results clearly in writing and speech

If you have ever checked a d = 6 anomaly coefficient by hand, or built the tooling to do it in xAct or Cadabra, you are the intended reader. The ad does not name a degree, but the bar is plainly research-level.

What it pays

$80–160/hour, micro1's published band and the same as its AMO, biophysics, magnetism and gravitation physics listings. No compensation structure, weekly hours or duration is stated, and nothing says how placement in the band is decided.

Worth knowing

Good:

• A precise topic, so you know immediately whether you qualify
• Ten openings on a subject this specialised is a reasonable intake
• No country restriction stated, and no AI experience needed
• Rewards symbolic-computation fluency that rarely pays outside academia

Less good:

• Narrow even within hep-th: holographic renormalisation specifically
• A 2x band with no stated basis for placement
• No hours, duration or pay structure published
• Posted two months ago; check it is still open
• 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 ten openings, the topics, the d ≤ 8 scope and the assignment roles are from the listing; the framing of the problem and the tool examples are ours. See micro1.