Application Guide

How to Apply for Research Partner

at Firstprinciples

🏢 About Firstprinciples

FirstPrinciples is a non-profit research org building AI for fundamental science, like Theo the AI Physicist. They’re remote-first, global, and tackle undefined problems at the intersection of creativity and rigorous thinking. If you're driven by curiosity about how the universe works, this is a unique place to contribute.

About This Role

As Research Partner, you'll bridge AI product development and researcher adoption, managing the full user lifecycle from activation to long-term engagement. Your work directly ensures that cutting-edge physics AI tools are effectively used to accelerate discovery.

💡 A Day in the Life

You might start by reviewing user feedback from physicists using Theo, then jump on a call with a researcher struggling with activation. Afternoon could involve iterating on onboarding materials or analyzing usage data to identify churn risks, followed by a team standup to align on product changes.

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🎯 Who Firstprinciples Is Looking For

  • Comfortable with ambiguity and iterative problem-solving, as the role involves undefined paths and evolving user needs.
  • Strong in user onboarding and support, with experience activating researchers or technical users in a scientific context.
  • Able to translate complex AI capabilities into clear value for physicists, requiring both technical literacy and communication skills.
  • Self-driven and proactive in a remote setting, with a knack for building processes from scratch to drive user retention.

📝 Tips for Applying to Firstprinciples

1

Highlight any experience with scientific research communities or AI tools; mention specific projects like Theo to show you've done your homework.

2

Emphasize your ability to work autonomously in a remote, fast-growing startup environment—provide examples of self-started initiatives.

3

Tailor your resume to show user lifecycle management (onboarding, support, retention) rather than just generic customer success.

4

In your cover letter, reference FirstPrinciples’ non-profit mission and your personal interest in fundamental science to demonstrate cultural fit.

5

Use the application to show how you handle ambiguity—briefly describe a time you navigated an unclear problem and drove user adoption.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for fundamental science and AI’s role in accelerating discovery.', 'Specific experience with user onboarding and support, especially with technical or research-oriented users.', 'Your comfort with ambiguity and iterative work—cite an example of tackling a problem without a clear path.', "Why you're drawn to a non-profit, remote-first team and how you thrive in that environment."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read about Theo the AI Physicist and FirstPrinciples’ published work or blog posts to understand their approach.
  • → Look into the challenges of AI adoption in scientific research, especially in physics—understand the user pain points.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the non-profit AI research landscape (e.g., similar orgs like EleutherAI or Anthropic’s research).
  • → Check the team page on their website to understand the culture and see if you can connect with current members.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design an onboarding flow for a physicist using Theo? Walk through steps and metrics.
2 Describe a time you had to support a user who didn't understand a complex product—what did you do?
3 How do you prioritize user feedback when the product is rapidly evolving?
4 What metrics would you track to measure user activation and long-term retention?
5 How do you stay motivated when working on problems with no clear solution?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't focus solely on sales or generic customer success—this role needs deep understanding of scientific users.
  • Avoid being too rigid in your approach; the company values comfort with ambiguity, so show flexibility.
  • Don't neglect the non-profit aspect—if you're only motivated by profit, it won't resonate with the mission.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Firstprinciples!

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