Physics Expert (Gravitation / Cosmology / Astrophysics)

$80–160/hrrate as listed

micro1 is contracting PhD-level gravitation, cosmology, and astrophysics researchers to build and audit a frontier physics benchmark covering dynamical Chern-Simons gravity, Palatini/tetrad formalism, FRW cosmology, and quadratic inflation. Work is remote, contract-based, and assigned by subfield as Solver, Auditor, or Adjudicator, with observed rates of $80–160/hr.

Summary, eligibility guidance and screening preparation are prepared by Sidequest from the platform's posting. Check the source listing before applying.

What the work involves

You will write and verify research-level physics problems and their full solutions — the kind of material a frontier model currently fails on. Typical items require deriving field equations in the first-order Palatini formalism using tetrads and spin connections, computing Pontryagin density contributions in Chern-Simons-modified gravity, setting up Friedmann ODEs with torsion, and integrating coupled nonlinear systems numerically with consistent Planck-unit normalization. Deliverables are expected to be self-contained: statement, derivation, numerical result where applicable, and a clear account of assumptions and conventions (signature, index placement, units).

Roles are split by function. Solvers produce the analytical and numerical work. Auditors independently reproduce it and flag sign errors, convention mismatches, unstated assumptions, and problems that are ambiguous or under-determined. Adjudicators resolve disagreements between the first two and issue a binding call with written reasoning. Which track you're offered depends on your subfield depth and how you perform on the screen.

What the platform screens for

Verifiable depth. micro1's screen is AI-led and conversational, with follow-ups that push past a first answer. Expect to be asked to reason aloud through a derivation rather than name-drop a formalism.
Convention discipline. A large share of benchmark defects are convention errors, not physics errors. Screeners probe whether you state and hold conventions consistently.
Evaluation judgment. Can you tell a wrong answer from a differently-conventioned right answer? Can you say when a problem is ill-posed rather than forcing a solution?
Provenance. Publications, thesis topic, and specific systems you've worked with are checked against what you claim in conversation.

Logistics

Fully remote, contractor engagement, asynchronous. Contributors commonly report 10–25 hours per week with flexible scheduling, though project phases are bursty and volume can drop between customer batches. Pay in the $80–160/hr range has been observed for this listing; actual offers vary by track (adjudication typically sits higher than solving) and by subfield scarcity, and nothing here is guaranteed. No prior AI or ML experience is required — LaTeX fluency and comfort with a numerical stack (Python/SciPy, Mathematica) matter far more.

What they look for

Physics
first-order Palatini gravity
tetrad + spin connections
Pontryagin density
Friedmann ODEs with torsion
coupled nonlinear ODE integration
Planck-unit normalization

Before you apply

Would you pass this screen?

Drawn from what this listing actually requires. Answered in your browser — nothing is sent to us, and we do not store your answers.

Do you hold a PhD (or equivalent, e.g., advanced research-based master's followed by years of professional research in a related field) in physics, with substantive specialization in gravitation, cosmology, or astrophysics?
PhD or equivalent in physics, gravitation, or cosmology · required
Have you personally worked on a research project, publication, or advanced coursework involving Palatini gravity, tetrad formalisms, or spin connection methods—not just read about them?
Hands-on Palatini gravity or tetrad formalism experience · required
Have you derived, solved, or analyzed coupled nonlinear ODE systems in a cosmological or gravitational physics context—either analytically or numerically?
Experience solving nonlinear ODE systems in cosmology or gravity · required
Are you familiar with Pontryagin density and Chern-Simons-type modifications in extended gravity theories, including their physical implications?
Familiarity with Pontryagin density and Chern-Simons modifications · preferred
Have you used Planck-unit normalization in your own theoretical or computational research?
Experience with Planck-unit normalization · preferred

0 of 5 answered

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 10 questions

Matched to what this platform's screening actually measures. Answer each out loud in 60–90 seconds: claim → concrete example → implication.

What it tests: Whether they have hands-on, publishable-level experience with Palatini tetrad methods rather than textbook familiarity; whether they understand the conceptual difference between first and second-order formalism.
A strong answer: They name a concrete project (thesis chapter, paper, or research contribution), describe the specific gravitational phenomenon they studied, explain why Palatini was the right tool (e.g., torsion coupling, spin connection dynamics), and show they grasped how the tetrad variables opened up a different solution path than metric methods.
Where people lose it: Describing Palatini gravity only in abstract mathematical terms without connecting it to a real calculation or physical outcome; or conflating Palatini with metric formalism, suggesting they've read about it but not worked through the formalism.