Are you highly intelligent, meticulous, and resourceful?

Hello VAs! I'm a Harvard-educated computer scientist, writer, and inventor looking for help with a variety of Internet-related research projects. These might be about all kinds of topics. Here are some examples:

1) Perform a patent search on a device I invented.
2) Find out what the Eastern Orthodox equivalent to the Catholic "Hail Mary" is, in Russian.
3) Figure out the best way I can incorporate a confidential LLC with a local registered agent in the state of Delaware.
4) Help me explore the best ways to track my blood caffeine levels, as part of a larger project I'm doing to improve my sleep quality.
5) Do research on what the Chinese think about cryonics.

I NEED someone who:

* is highly intelligent
* is resourceful
* understands written English well
* is meticulous and thorough in research
* understands what I am REALLY looking for, and how I will use that information to make decisions [see below]

I DO NOT need someone who:

* speaks perfect English
* work nights, weekends, or be available at a moment's notice. (I'm very flexible on when you do the work.)
* uses the phone or does customer service
* has any specialized skills (programming, sales, copywriting, etc.) ANYONE should be able to do this work -- all you need to be is smart.

THIS IS A PART-TIME, AS-NEEDED position. I do not need help all the time, so this is not a full-time job only for someone who wants to make extra $$$ on the side. I will pay you on an hourly or per-project basis. However, if it works out well, I might eventually need a part-time or full-time employee (as I'm starting several small businesses right now). Your wages will depend on how quickly you can get the work done and how much guidance you will need; I am willing to pay more for excellent results. I expect starting wages to be between $5 - $15 / hour.


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Here's an example to illustrate what I mean about getting me information I can use to make decisions. I once asked a great virtual assistant I worked with to research companies that could incorporate an LLC for me in Delaware: Here is the format of results I got:


Company Price
====== ====

Company 1 $29

Company 2 $139

Company 3 Premium - $699
Standard - $449
Basic - $249

Company 4 $479

Company 5 $50


Do you see any problem with this information?* (Answer below.) If you don't, please don't apply for this position.


THE PROBLEM:
Which company should I pick to incorporate my LLC? I have no idea, because this information does not compare the actual services done by each company. Clearly, Company 1 is not doing the same thing for $29 that Company 4 is going to do for $479; Company 4 must be providing more services. What are those services? Do I actually need them? This virtual assistant did not think about HOW I CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO MAKE DECISIONS.

I need a VA who can think clearly about what information I need to make a decision, and go out and get me that information (even if I did not explicitly ask for it).