Drug Discovery Scientist

Mercor

. Design realistic research problems for frontier AI models in drug research and development .

Posted 10/25/2026contractRemote • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $60 - $90 per hourWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in mechanistic enzymology and structure-based medicinal chemistry, with a strong ability to design rigorous drug research problems and evaluate scientific conclusions. Proficient in using browser-based studio and Claude Code for AI training projects.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Mechanistic EnzymologyStructure-Based Medicinal ChemistryDrug Research DesignScientific EvaluationBrowser-Based Studio

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Mechanistic EnzymologyStructure-Guided Peptide DesignAntibody DesignFragment-Based DiscoveryStructure-Based Medicinal Chemistry

Soft Skills

Judging Reasoning QualityIndependent Contractor Work

Tools & Technologies

Browser-Based StudioClaude Code

Certifications & Qualifications

PhD or Equivalent Industry Track Record

Industry Keywords

Drug ResearchAI ModelsData RoomsVerification and CalibrationScientific Authority

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design realistic research problems for frontier AI models in drug research and development
Create prompts, data rooms, and grading documents for each task
Identify hidden basins and forcing chains that make conclusions inevitable
Assemble data rooms from real, source-grounded data
Ensure every decisive value traces to a real source
Write grading documents that evaluate submitted memos on substance rather than style or method
Run verification and calibration before submission
Revise work when reviewers request changes
Serve as the final authority on scientific and difficulty questions for assigned tasks
Work with browser-based studio and Claude Code
Collaborate with leading researchers on AI training projects

Requirements

What you’ll need

Working expertise in mechanistic enzymology, structure-guided peptide or antibody design, fragment-based discovery, or structure-based medicinal chemistry
PhD or equivalent industry track record
Ability to design realistic, rigorous drug research and development problems
Ability to defend scientific conclusions rigorously
Comfortable judging reasoning quality, not just final answers
Commitment of at least 20 hours per week, up to 40 hours
Comfortable using a browser-based studio and Claude Code
Must be able to work as an independent contractor
H1-B and STEM OPT candidates are not supported

Benefits

Comp & perks

Claude Max subscription fully reimbursed
Payments weekly on Stripe or Wise
Fully remote work
Flexible schedule; work on your own schedule
Projects may be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on needs and performance
Competitive pay
Reasonable accommodations upon request
Referral earnings up to $360 per successful referral