Mercor Research Fellowship 2026: AI Research Opportunity

Applications are now open for the Mercor Research Fellowship 2026. This program is designed for individuals interested in advancing AI research, focusing on benchmarks, evaluation techniques, and economic analyses of artificial intelligence. It offers a unique chance to develop and implement new research methodologies with support from industry experts.

Application Closing Date: September 26, 2026

Location: San Francisco (Optional)

Programme Duration: 3 or 6 months

Stipend: $40,000 (3 months) or $80,000 (6 months)

Minimum Qualification: Background in economics, CS, ML, statistics, or adjacent fields.

Opportunity Type: Research Fellowship

About the Mercor Research Fellowship

The Mercor Research Fellowship is an initiative to build the next generation of AI benchmarks, evaluation techniques, and economic analyses. Fellows will have the opportunity to propose and develop their own research ideas. This includes creating new benchmarks, improving evaluation methods, or conducting economic studies on AI’s impact.

The program aims to provide fellows with the necessary resources, including compute power, expert labor, and mentorship, to bring their research projects to completion. Selected fellows will work closely with the APEX research team, gaining access to real enterprise evaluation problems from Mercor’s partners.

This fellowship is ideal for those who want to shape how the industry measures AI capability and understand its economic implications. It encourages innovative thinking and practical application of research skills in a dynamic environment.

About Mercor

Mercor is a company focused on the economics of human data platforms and AI. They provide access to proprietary data and enterprise evaluation problems from their Fortune 500 and frontier-lab partners. Mercor’s work aims to better understand AI’s impact on the economy and firms.

The company operates in a startup environment, emphasizing fast iteration and direct engagement with real customer problems. They support research that can shape industry standards and practices in AI evaluation and deployment.

Available Research Opportunities

The fellowship supports a range of research areas within AI, including:

• Long-horizon, multi-app agentic tasks in professional services like law, finance, and consulting.
• Real-world software engineering evaluation beyond simple issue resolution.
• Professional accounting and finance workflows.
• AI-for-Science evaluations in mathematics, biology, materials science, and theoretical physics.
• New economic benchmarks for capabilities like negotiation and management.
• Novel evaluation methodologies, such as contamination resistance and cost-adjusted scoring.
• The economics of human data platforms, including pricing and market dynamics.
• Empirical work on the “AI Theory of the Firm” and how work is organized within AI-native companies.

Strong pitches outside these specific areas are also welcome, as Mercor funds the best ideas.

What the Fellowship Offers

Successful applicants will receive significant support and benefits:

• A stipend of $40,000 for a 3-month fellowship or $80,000 for a 6-month fellowship.
• Unlimited API credits, plus a dedicated budget for GPU compute and paid expert/human-data time.
• Weekly one-on-one mentorship with a member of the APEX research team.
• Access to Mercor’s marketplace and expert-network data for empirical research.
• Access to frontier model APIs and Mercor’s internal evaluation infrastructure.
• An optional desk space at Mercor’s San Francisco office.
• Introductions to Mercor’s network of researchers in leading labs and academia.
• Opportunities for outstanding fellows to be considered for full-time roles on the APEX research team.

Programme Duration and Location

The fellowship program runs for either 3 or 6 months. While the fellowship is primarily remote, fellows who wish to work in person have the option of using a desk at Mercor’s office in San Francisco.

Minimum Requirements

To be eligible for the Mercor Research Fellowship, applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate genuine interest in evaluation as a research discipline.
• Possess a background in economics, computer science, machine learning, statistics, or an adjacent field such as measurement, psychometrics, HCI, or social science.
• Have a specific, well-scoped idea for a benchmark, evaluation technique, or empirical study.
• Be comfortable working in a startup environment with fast iteration and direct access to customer problems.
• Be able to commit at least 30 hours per week for the duration of the fellowship.
• Experience with agentic evaluation, RL environments, or domain expertise in law, finance, medicine, or a scientific field is considered a bonus.

Competencies Required

The fellowship values individuals with strong research and analytical skills. Key competencies include:

• A well-defined research proposal.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently and manage research projects.
• Effective communication skills for presenting research findings.
• Adaptability and willingness to work in a fast-paced startup setting.
• A proactive approach to research and development.

Who Should Apply?

This fellowship is ideal for researchers, academics, or individuals with a strong technical background who are passionate about advancing the field of AI evaluation. It suits those who have a clear research idea they wish to develop and implement with significant industry support. If you are looking to gain practical experience in AI research, work with real-world data, and contribute to shaping industry standards, this opportunity is for you.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the following documents for their application:

• A detailed research proposal outlining the benchmark, evaluation technique, or empirical study they wish to pursue.
• A curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant experience, education, and publications.
• Academic transcripts or proof of relevant qualifications.
• A cover letter expressing interest in the fellowship and Mercor’s work.
• Contact information for references.

Specific document requirements may be detailed on the application portal.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply for the Mercor Research Fellowship 2026 through the official application portal.

Click here to apply for the Mercor Research Fellowship 2026

Applicants are advised to carefully read all requirements and ensure their proposal and supporting documents are complete and well-prepared before submitting.

Important Notes

• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps.
• Applications must be submitted by the specified closing date.
• The fellowship is built around the applicant’s proposed research idea.
• Applicants should be comfortable with the fast-paced nature of a startup environment.
• Commitment of at least 30 hours per week is required for the fellowship duration.

Closing Date

The closing date for the Mercor Research Fellowship 2026 is September 26, 2026. Applications should be submitted before 7:00 AM GMT+1 on this date.

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