PhD Research Writers (Project & Operations)

Upwork has partnered with an Enterprise client seeking PhD holders with domain expertise in "Project & Operations"  to generate high-quality datasets, curate information, and create structured content to enhance a Large Language Model’s (LLM) learning capabilities

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in research, writing, and data curation, along with a deep understanding of AI, NLP, and machine learning concepts.

Tasks include:

• Conduct in-depth research on various topics to generate factually accurate, high-quality content for LLM training
• Writing, editing, and refining instructional datasets, including dialogues, summaries, explanations, and multi-turn conversations
• Ensuring linguistic clarity, coherence, and adherence to ethical AI guidelines
• Reviewing, validating, and refining model-generated outputs for accuracy and relevance
• Collaborating with AI engineers, data scientists, and linguists to improve the LLM’s comprehension and reasoning abilities

• A PhD in a field related to the domain is required
• Experience in research writing, technical writing, content curation, and/or AI data annotation is required
• A strong understanding of Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), and Large Language Models (LLMs) is required
• Excellent writing, editing, and analytical skills with a focus on accuracy and clarity in English are required
• The ability to synthesize complex information into digestible content is required
• Familiarity with AI model training workflows, prompt engineering, and/or data augmentation techniques is preferred but not required

• After reviewing your proposal, the client may ask you to complete a domain-specific, unpaid, 90-minute assessment.
• You’ll be contacted directly if this step is required.
• If hired, freelancers will be offered a 6-month contract. There is an immediate need for up to 20 hours of work per week.
• The overall volume of work may vary week to week based on the client’s business needs, and freelancers will be able to accept or decline tasks based on their availability.
• The maximum budget for this project is $15-25 per hour, depending on your location and your qualifications. A lump sum milestone payment will be released every week, for work completed the week prior, as tracked within the client’s platform.