Physics Expert (High Energy / Mathematical Physics)

$80–160/hrrate as listed

micro1 is contracting theoretical physicists to solve, audit, or adjudicate research-level problems in AdS/CFT, holographic Weyl anomalies, and Fefferman-Graham expansions for a frontier AI lab's training data. Work is remote and asynchronous, with observed rates of $80–160/hr depending on assignment tier and subfield fit.

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

This is not survey-taking or generic prompt writing. You will be handed problems at the level of a research paper's technical appendix: computing on-shell gravitational actions, expanding bulk metrics in Weyl-Fefferman-Graham gauge, assembling boundary curvature invariants in d ≤ 8, and extracting holographic Weyl anomaly coefficients. Depending on how you screen, you may be placed as a Solver (produce complete, reproducible derivations), an Auditor (check another expert's tensor algebra line by line and flag where it breaks), or an Adjudicator (resolve disagreements between solvers and auditors and set the canonical answer). Deliverables are typically LaTeX write-ups with explicit intermediate steps — the model needs to learn the reasoning chain, not just the endpoint, so "it follows from standard manipulations" is a rejection.

What the platform screens for

micro1 runs an AI-led interview before any human contact. Expect it to probe whether your stated familiarity with holography is load-bearing: it will ask you to describe a specific calculation you have personally carried out, then push on the details — which gauge, which counterterms, how you fixed the ambiguity in the a- and c-type anomaly coefficients, where the d = 6 and d = 8 cases diverge in difficulty. Vague or textbook-level answers get filtered. It also tests evaluation judgment: whether you can distinguish a sign error from a conceptual error, whether you flag underspecified problem statements rather than guessing conventions, and whether you can say "this is outside my subfield" without hedging. A PhD in high energy theory or mathematical physics, or equivalent publication record, is effectively the entry condition.

Logistics

Fully remote, contractor engagement, async — no standing meetings in most assignments.
Volume is project-driven and can be lumpy; some contributors work 10–15 hours a week, others take larger batches during a push.
Observed pay band is $80–160/hr, with adjudicator work typically at the upper end. This is what contributors report, not a guarantee.
Comfort with LaTeX is assumed; symbolic computation tooling (Mathematica, xAct/xTensor, Cadabra) is common but the specific stack varies by assignment.
No AI or ML background required. Prior experience grading, refereeing, or reviewing is a real advantage for auditor and adjudicator tracks.

What they look for

AdS/CFT
on-shell gravitational action
Weyl-Fefferman-Graham gauge
tensor algebra of boundary curvature invariants
Physics

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 terminal degree) in Physics, Mathematics, or a closely related field?
PhD or equivalent in Physics or Mathematics · required
Have you authored or co-authored a peer-reviewed publication or technical report involving AdS/CFT correspondence, holographic duality, or related gravitational methods?
Hands-on research in AdS/CFT or holographic duality · required
Have you personally computed or worked with Weyl anomalies in your research or detailed technical work?
Direct experience with Weyl anomalies · preferred
Have you worked on calculations or problems involving spatial dimensions greater than four (higher-dimensional physics, supergravity, or holography in d ≥ 5)?
Familiarity with dimensions d > 4 · preferred

0 of 4 answered

Included with this listing

Interview prep — 11 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 you've done hands-on research in AdS/CFT at a depth that goes beyond coursework—can you articulate a concrete problem you solved, not just what you read.
A strong answer: A specific research project, paper, or substantial problem you tackled that required you to manipulate AdS/CFT ideas in a non-routine way: deriving a result, debugging a calculation, or applying the framework to a new system. The answer should name what you computed or proved, not restate textbook definitions.
Where people lose it: Describing AdS/CFT in general terms ('I studied the correspondence between gauge theory and gravity') without naming a single calculation, derivation, or problem you personally worked through. This reveals theoretical familiarity but not the hands-on technical fluency the role demands.