AI Researcher – Part-Time (20 hrs/week)

ZetaChain is seeking a part-time AI Researcher to lead high-impact, applied research projects that combine AI, blockchain, and cross-chain interoperability. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a startup environment, is deeply curious, and can independently design, build, and run experiments from scratch. You will explore cutting-edge directions in generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and agent-based systems — taking ideas from concept to prototype — and collaborate closely with our engineering team to translate research breakthroughs into real-world applications.

You will formulate and execute small, high-leverage research projects aligned with our product roadmap (e.g., LLM evaluation, retrieval, agent systems, multimodal research). Independently build and validate end-to-end prototypes — from data preparation and model fine-tuning to performance testing and delivering functional demos. Design and run experimental pipelines autonomously, including setting up research environments and defining evaluation metrics. Translate research outcomes into executable solutions, collaborating with engineering to integrate findings into production systems. Stay current with the latest ML and generative AI research, pragmatically adapting state-of-the-art methods to real use cases. Work directly with company leadership to align research directions with strategic initiatives and ensure tangible, real-world impact.