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Welcome to the Research Onboarding đź“Ž

What do we do at the research team?​

As you’ve probably seen in the Project Lifecycle, Wonderland usually reaches out to certain protocols with new ideas and ways we believe they can be improved. In general, the entire process starts with us—the research team.

One of our key responsibilities is keeping the team updated on the latest developments in the ecosystem. This could be a new ERC standard, an updated version of Uniswap, or the emergence of an entirely new protocol. At a high level, our goal is to stay at the forefront.

Beyond that, and just as importantly, the research team plays a key role at the start of every project. Before proposing an Idea Draft, we gather background knowledge on the topic: What technologies does the protocol we’re working with use? What are the underlying technicalities? Are there any vulnerabilities? How can we improve what already exists? Is the improvement necessary? Also, we benchmark other solutions to the problem at hand, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to produce an informed, opinionated report with recommendations.

In essence, we are sort of the foundation of every project, which is why we exist—to provide the groundwork. From there, we typically collaborate with the Partner Leads and Architects throughout the development of the Tech Design, addressing key questions and assisting with architectural decisions.

It’s probably one of the most exciting jobs out there.

Hands on!​

This onboarding is designed to give you a solid foundation in the key areas of our work. During this time, you’ll gain hands-on experience with critical topics, connect with the team, and contribute by solving challenges that reflects your learning.

The idea is for it to be more than just absorbing information—it’s about applying what you learn, asking questions, and starting to create value from day one. Here's what you should expect:

  • Interactive Learning: little challenges to deepen your understanding of key topics.
  • Guided Support: the team will be available to answer your questions and review your work.
  • Focused Contributions: you’ll work on assigments that ties directly to the challenges we’re addressing.

We will cover several sections during the onboarding. In the first part, you will:

  • Explore the Fundamentals: Learn the essentials of game theory, cryptography, token standards, interoperability, Layer 2s, bridges, and more.
  • Dive Into Resources: Access our curated library of articles, videos, and case studies.
  • Ask Questions: Ask as many questions as you need—curiosity is key!

The Fundamentals section is organized into four parts: Basics, Intermediate, DeFi, and Core. Each part includes a series of challenges designed to develop critical analysis, attack modelling, and system design skills. Throughout the process, you’ll receive feedback from the team to refine your approach and build confidence in your work.

🛰️ Comms​

  • All the questions regarding the challenge or anything should go in the #new-team-member-onboarding-channel within the onboarding section in Wonderland’s discord server.
  • Anyone who is available will answer your questions : )

🕰️ Estimated Time​

  • The onboarding is designed to take around three weeks if done full-time. It can take approximately one month if done part-time (5 hours per day).

📎 Tracking​

Your onboarding progress will be tracked through Linear issues assigned to you at the start of the process. Each section will have its own set of challenges to track your learning and application.