Remote | PhD Machine Learning Research Scientist — $105–$140/hour

We are sharing a specialised part-time consulting opportunity for PhD-level machine learning researchers with a demonstrated record of original frontier research and publications at ICML, NeurIPS, or ICLR. This high-priority pilot focuses on advanced machine learning research and algorithmic innovation. Selected researchers will contribute deep technical expertise across areas such as reinforcement learning, meta-learning, recursive self-improvement, and AI for scientific discovery. The project has an accelerated timeline and is intended for researchers whose work has advanced state-of-the-art machine learning methods. Key Responsibilities Frontier Machine Learning Research Contribute to well-defined research problems involving advanced machine learning methods Develop and evaluate original algorithmic approaches grounded in current research Analyse experimental results and identify meaningful opportunities for improvement Apply rigorous scientific reasoning to complex and open-ended technical questions Algorithm & Experiment Development Design experiments that test novel learning strategies, architectures, or optimisation methods Develop reproducible research workflows and clearly document experimental assumptions Evaluate competing approaches using appropriate metrics and statistical methodology Diagnose unexpected behaviour, methodological weaknesses, and performance limitations Research Analysis & Technical Review Review technical outputs for methodological soundness, originality, and research quality Assess whether claims are supported by experiments and appropriate baselines Identify gaps in reasoning, evaluation design, and interpretation of results Provide precise written feedback and recommendations for further investigation Rapid Pilot Collaboration Contribute within an accelerated research and delivery schedule Collaborate asynchronously with other senior researchers and technical stakeholders Communicate findings, limitations, and research decisions clearly Maintain high scientific standards while supporting fast project execution Ideal Profile Strong candidates may have: A PhD in machine learning, computer science, artificial intelligence, or a closely related field At least one main-conference publication at ICML, NeurIPS, or ICLR A particularly strong profile with two or more publications at these venues Demonstrated experience conducting original machine learning research A record of contributing to algorithmic innovation rather than primarily applied analytics Strong experimental design, mathematical reasoning, and technical writing skills Ability to work independently on ambiguous and research-intensive problems Availability to contribute promptly to an urgent pilot engagement Educational Background A completed PhD in machine learning, computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, applied mathematics, or a closely related discipline is required Doctoral research should demonstrate substantial original contributions to machine learning Publications at leading peer-reviewed ML conferences are central to the selection process Additional research experience within a university, industrial research laboratory, or advanced AI organisation may strengthen an application Nice to Have Research expertise in reinforcement learning Experience with meta-learning or learning-to-learn methods Work involving recursive self-improvement or autonomous model-improvement systems Research in AI for science, including weather forecasting, protein modelling, or scientific discovery A strong record of state-of-the-art experimental results Experience developing open-source machine learning research tools or models Additional publications at leading machine learning, AI, or scientific-computing venues Familiarity with research workflows requiring rapid experimentation and delivery Why This Opportunity Contribute to a small, highly selective frontier machine learning research group Work on high-priority problems involving original algorithmic innovation Apply expertise developed through top-tier ML research and publication Explore advanced topics across reinforcement learning, meta-learning, and AI for science Participate in an urgent pilot with competitive hourly compensation Contract Details Independent contractor role Fully remote with flexible scheduling High-priority pilot with an accelerated selection and project timeline Initial research data or results are expected around 27–28 July Competitive rates between $105–$140 per hour depending on research expertise and publication record Weekly payments via Stripe or Wise Work may include research design, experimentation, technical analysis, and written evaluation Projects may be extended, shortened, or adjusted depending on pilot outcomes, scope, and performance Work will not involve access to confidential or proprietary information from any employer, client, or institution About the Platform This opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC. 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