STEM Undergraduates

Know what you are signing up for

This is a 1099 freelance contract, not a regular job. You handle your own taxes, and Mercor does not deduct taxes from your payments. Work comes in waves based on client AI lab needs. Tasks have strict time limits and only time spent within those limits gets paid. Going in with the right expectations makes everything smoother.

Complete account verification and contractor setup

Before accessing assignments, you must set up your contractor profile on the Mercor Talent portal. Fill out your core profile fields, link your professional background, and complete the basic security checks to open the active contract pipeline.

Apply to the job and complete all required application steps

Submit your application to the STEM Undergraduates slot. Confirm your enrollment status, major, and country of residence. This role is open to currently enrolled STEM undergraduates or those with only an undergraduate degree — no advanced degrees. Some applications also include a short AI-powered interview — if prompted, treat it seriously and answer clearly, it usually takes under 10 minutes.

⚠️ You must be a U.S. person currently located in a Five Eyes country (US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand). Mercor cannot support H1-B or STEM OPT candidates. Applicants with explosives, pyrotechnics, demolition, or military EOD experience are not eligible for this project.

Received your project invitation email

Mercor reviews submissions and routes project invitations on an invite-only basis. Keep a close eye on your inbox and spam folder for an official confirmation email containing your direct workspace and onboarding link.

Set up all project information and platform compliance parameters

Log into your Mercor dashboard to complete your compliance files. You must digitally sign your master Terms of Work (ToW), complete the Confidential Information agreement (CIIAA), and submit your W-9 or W-8BEN tax forms.

⚠️ Your production workspace and project access will remain entirely locked until every master document is digitally signed.

Complete your first research task

Access your assigned tasks through your Mercor dashboard. You will conduct independent, open-ended research tasks that require strong information literacy and source evaluation. You must run the Insightful (Workpuls) desktop tracker to log your active hours while working.

⚠️ The Workpuls tracker takes periodic screenshots to audit activity. Forgetting to pause it when stepping away can result in uncompensated hours or account review.

Confirm your first payment through Stripe or Wise

Payouts are issued on a recurring weekly schedule based on your logged and approved hours. US residents receive a 1099-NEC via Stripe if earnings exceed $600, while international contractors are paid via Stripe or Wise according to local regulations.

⚠️ Make sure your legal name and country selection in your payment profile match your signed tax documentation exactly to avoid blocked transfers.