Molecular Biology Experts - US

Join a leading AI lab's cutting-edge GenAI team and help build foundational AI models from the ground up. We're looking for Molecular Biology subject-matter experts (SMEs) who have designed DNA and RNA sequences themselves, including primers, plasmids, guide RNAs, mRNA constructs and repair templates, and who can bring that depth to the quality of our AI training data.

This is a W-2 employment position with Cincinnatus LLC, with the opportunity to be placed at a leading AI Lab as part of their extended workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with research and engineering teams to find where a model's molecular biology reasoning breaks down, and help close those gaps.
• Design hard, domain-relevant tasks and write the accurate, well documented solutions that become ground truth. That spans primers for PCR, qPCR and cloning, plasmids and expression vectors, gRNA and sgRNA for CRISPR editing, mRNA and RNA constructs, and HDR or repair templates.
• Review molecular biology tasks and model outputs against expert-quality solutions, and give clear written feedback on correctness, rigor and biological reasoning.
• Write the guidelines and rubrics used to judge sequence design quality, covering guide and target selection, homology arm length, primer melting temperature and specificity, codon optimization, and regulatory elements.
• Work alongside other subject matter experts so the training data stays consistent and accurate.

Core Qualifications

• An advanced degree, PhD strongly preferred, in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, synthetic biology, bioengineering or a related life science field.
• Hands-on experience designing nucleic acid constructs before the experiment runs, across several of primers, plasmids and vectors, gRNA and sgRNA, mRNA, and HDR or repair templates, together with the cloning strategy behind them (Gibson, Golden Gate, Gateway, restriction) and codon optimization.
• A strong peer-reviewed publication record, weighted toward first-author work in notable venues such as Nature and the Nature family, Cell, eLife, Nucleic Acids Research, PNAS and EMBO Journal. Please include links to your publications when you apply.
• Clear career progression.
• You can commit reliably to at least 20 hours a week on weekdays.
• Previous work in AI training, model evaluation or data annotation is a plus.
• Strong written communication, and the ability to explain the reasoning behind a design choice clearly and precisely.

About Cincinnatus LLC

Cincinnatus LLC is an enterprise staffing company that partners with leading technology companies to source and employ highly skilled professionals for contingent and contract-based opportunities. Cincinnatus serves as the employer of record for these engagements, providing W-2 employment, payroll, benefits, and compliance, while placing employees directly within client teams to work on high-impact initiatives.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Cincinnatus is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or any other legally protected characteristic.

We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Contract and Payment Terms

• You will be engaged as an independent contractor.
• This is a fully remote role that can be completed on your own schedule.
• Projects can be extended, shortened, or concluded early depending on needs and performance.
• Your work at Mercor will not involve access to confidential or proprietary information from any employer, client, or institution.
• Payments are weekly on Stripe or Wise based on services rendered.
• Please note: We are unable to support H1-B or STEM OPT candidates at this time.