Physics Lab Solutions Developer (Contract)

Catalyst Education seeking Contractor with Physics and Coding background

Catalyst Education is looking for remote part-time contractors with a background in undergraduate physics laboratory instruction and experience in web development and scripting (such as JavaScript, Python, HTML, LaTeX, and JSON). Contractors will help deliver interactive physics lab content on Catalyst's digital learning platform by translating and transforming paper-based lab procedures into autograding scripts.

Hours are flexible to fit your schedule, with a strong preference for candidates available 20 hours per week. Work will begin in early November and continue through 2027 for strong performers. High-performing contractors will be prioritized for future full-time roles.

Responsibilities:

• Content Conversion & Digital Authoring: Convert traditional physics lab experiments and report sheets into interactive digital modules using proprietary markup tools.
• UX & Input Design: Select and embed functional interactive elements (prompts, tables, dropdowns, open-response fields) to optimize student engagement and lab clarity.
• Experimental Modeling: Incorporate real-world lab equipment parameters (measurement precision, tolerance, instrumentation range) into data entry validation rules.
• Autograding & Logic Scripting: Write JavaScript evaluation logic to analyze student data, automate mathematical formulas, and deliver targeted response feedback.
• Markup & Data Formatting: Draft and debug structured content using HTML, LaTeX for equations, and JSON for configurations.

Qualifications:

• Direct experience working with students in undergraduate laboratory physics courses (ex: current or former Teaching Assistant, tutor, etc)
• Demonstrated proficiency with web markup (HTML) and mathematical typesetting (LaTeX)
• Proficiency with scripting languages (JavaScript, Python) and structured data formats (JSON)
• Experience with Artificial Intelligence tools for drafting and reviewing work.
• Ability to work at least 10 hours per week (20 preferred)
• Reliable personal computer and internet access
• Legal status to work as a 1099 Contractor