Application Guide

How to Apply for Member of Technical Staff, Staff Physicist

at Firstprinciples

🏢 About Firstprinciples

FirstPrinciples is a non-profit research organization pioneering AI infrastructure for scientific discovery, currently building Theo, the AI Physicist. Their remote-first, global team combines deep scientific rigor with cutting-edge AI, offering a unique opportunity to shape how fundamental physics research is conducted. The work is intellectually ambitious, tackling undefined problems at the intersection of AI and science.

About This Role

As a Staff Physicist, you will define what 'good' research looks like for an AI system, establishing benchmarks and evaluation metrics for scientific reasoning. Your domain expertise will directly influence how Theo learns and progresses, ensuring its outputs are rigorous and meaningful. This role is critical to advancing the field of AI-driven discovery.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start reviewing Theo's latest research outputs, assessing their scientific validity and novelty. You'd then collaborate with engineers to refine evaluation metrics, followed by deep reading in physics or AI to inform next steps. Afternoons could involve brainstorming sessions on how to teach Theo a new concept, ending with writing documentation or a blog post about your findings.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Firstprinciples Is Looking For

  • PhD in physics or a closely related field with deep expertise in fundamental physics (e.g., quantum field theory, general relativity, particle physics).
  • Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, especially in reasoning and evaluation, with experience in designing metrics for complex tasks.
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and iterative problem-solving, able to work on open-ended questions without clear precedents.
  • Excellent communication skills to bridge physics and AI, translating scientific problems into measurable goals for engineers.

📝 Tips for Applying to Firstprinciples

1

Highlight specific experience with evaluating scientific reasoning or benchmarking AI systems in physics contexts.

2

Demonstrate your comfort with ambiguity by discussing a project where you defined success criteria from scratch.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize both physics depth and any AI/ML collaboration or projects.

4

Include a brief note on why you're drawn to non-profit research and the mission of advancing fundamental science.

5

Mention any familiarity with FirstPrinciples' published work or Theo's architecture to show genuine interest.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for fundamental physics and AI-driven discovery, and alignment with the non-profit mission.', "Specific examples of how you've defined or evaluated quality in research or AI outputs.", 'Your ability to work on ill-defined problems and iterate towards solutions.', 'Collaborative experience bridging physics and AI teams, emphasizing communication across disciplines.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study FirstPrinciples' published materials on Theo, including any blog posts, papers, or talks.
  • → Understand the current challenges in AI reasoning for science, especially in physics.
  • → Familiarize yourself with existing benchmarks for scientific AI (e.g., for math or chemistry) and their limitations.
  • → Learn about the team's background and culture from their website or LinkedIn to align your approach.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you define and measure 'good' research for an AI physicist? What metrics would you propose?
2 Describe a time you had to solve a problem with no clear solution path. How did you approach it?
3 How would you evaluate whether Theo's output is scientifically novel and correct?
4 Discuss a fundamental physics concept you'd want Theo to understand and how you'd test that understanding.
5 How do you stay current with both physics and AI developments? Give an example of cross-pollination.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Overemphasizing pure AI engineering without showing deep physics expertise; this role needs both.
  • Providing generic answers about AI evaluation without concrete physics examples.
  • Failing to demonstrate comfort with ambiguity or iterative work; avoid overly rigid problem-solving narratives.

📅 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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