Training Turk

Molecular Biology Experts - US

$70–105/hr · Mercor · Hourly, 40 hours a week

A molecular biologist who validates sequence design and genetic engineering reasoning to train AI systems in biological engineering.

What you would do

  • Design DNA and RNA sequences including primers, plasmids, expression vectors, guide RNAs, and repair templates with documented cloning strategy
  • Review molecular biology tasks and AI outputs against expert-quality solutions, assessing biological correctness and reasoning
  • Write evaluation guidelines and scoring rubrics for assessing primer design, guide RNA selection, homology arm length, and codon optimization
  • Identify gaps in AI reasoning about sequence design and create example problems and solutions to close those gaps
  • Collaborate with other experts to ensure training data remains consistent and scientifically rigorous

Who they want

  • PhD in molecular biology, genetics, synthetic biology, biochemistry, bioengineering, or related life science field
  • Hands-on experience designing nucleic acid constructs across multiple types: primers, plasmids, vectors, gRNA, mRNA, and HDR templates
  • Strong first-author publication record in peer-reviewed venues such as Nature, Cell, eLife, or Nucleic Acids Research
  • Reliable availability for at least 20 hours per week on weekdays with clear career progression demonstrated
  • Strong written communication and ability to explain design choices and reasoning clearly and precisely

Main skills

Primer design and pcr optimizationPlasmid and expression vector engineeringCrispr guide rna and sgrna design

What the interview asks about

  1. 1.Primer design and optimization criteria

    Correct primer selection balances multiple constraints: melting temperature, specificity, avoiding self-complementarity; AI systems must learn to weigh these trade-offs.

    For example: “You're designing primers for a qPCR assay targeting a 200bp region of a highly conserved gene. Another region of the genome shares 95% sequence identity with your intended target. How do you design primers that are specific and how do you validate specificity?”

  2. 2.CRISPR guide RNA and HDR template design

    Successful CRISPR editing requires coordinating guide specificity, off-target risk, and repair template design; mistakes here are costly in expensive experiments.

    For example: “You're designing a CRISPR HDR edit to introduce a 15bp insertion into human HEK293T cells using a standard edit template. The genomic target sits in a region with high repetitive content nearby. What additional design considerations would you include?”

  3. 3.Codon optimization and regulatory element integration

    Balancing expression level, mRNA stability, and protein folding through codon choice and regulatory placement separates theoretical design from biologically functional constructs.

    For example: “You've optimized a synthetic gene for high expression in mammalian cells, but now you need to modify it for expression in yeast. Why can't you simply use the mammalian-optimized version, and what changes would you make?”

  4. 4.Cloning strategy and construct feasibility

    Choosing the right cloning method (Gibson, Golden Gate, Gateway) based on the construct complexity, number of parts, and available infrastructure determines whether the design is achievable.

    For example: “You need to combine four genetic elements into a plasmid: a promoter, coding sequence, terminator, and selection marker. Which cloning method would you use and why, and what's a potential complication with each choice?”

A task you may get

Design a complete CRISPR-HDR editing construct including the guide RNA sequence, repair template with appropriate homology arms, and explanation of your target selection criteria and why the design should succeed.

How to prepare

  • Review recent papers on CRISPR guide design and off-target prediction to understand current best practices and tools
  • Study codon optimization strategies for different model organisms and understand how organism-specific preferences affect expression
  • Examine recent plasmid designs in your field to understand current cloning strategies and design patterns being used
  • Prepare examples of where sequence design fails in practice and explain the biological reasons behind the failures

The facts

Pay
$70–105/hr
Hours
Hourly, 40 hours a week
Where
Remote · Remote US
Open to
USA, USA
Field
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Posted
9/11/2026
Places left
20

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