Research Assistant
California Institute Of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Posted October 26, 2026
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Where Pasadena, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #12Cities hosting the most business conferences in the West Coast4 conferences · of 17
- #14Best cities for entry-level jobs that want AI skills in the West Coast12% · of 54
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- #21Best cities for junior jobs in California27% · of 54
- #22Best college towns for junior jobs in the West Coast29% · of 50
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AI use among biological technicians is little observed so far. Measured exposure for biological technicians: 6% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions. We thrive on finding and cultivating talented people who are passionate about what they do. Join us and be a part of the diverse Caltech community.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Research Assistant to support the development and testing of software pipelines for the RAPID and RISE projects. This is a position working collaboratively with scientists and software engineers on the RAPID and RISE teams. The primary responsibilities include assisting with pipeline development and testing, generating new simulated data, and utilizing existing OpenUniverse simulated datasets.
Essential Job Duties
Develop familiarity with the characteristics of Roman Space Telescope observations and RAPID data products.
Validate and optimize the RAPID pipeline using simulated Roman images and injected transient sources.
Characterize the Roman Space Telescope point spread function (PSF) in image mosaics to support image subtraction.
Optimize PSF-fitting photometry for both the RAPID and RISE pipelines.
Improve photometric algorithms for crowded Galactic fields.
Generate new simulated datasets as needed to support RISE pipeline development and testing.
Additional Information: This position follows a regular workweek schedule. We support ongoing professional development and offer occasional opportunities to attend scientific workshops and relevant training programs.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, Physics, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience programming in Python.
Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and preparing presentations.
Ability to present technical work and findings to the RAPID and RISE teams.
Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to share ideas and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
Proficiency in coding with Python.
Familiarity with PostgreSQL.
Experience submitting batch jobs in a cloud computing environment.
Comfortable using tools like Zoom, Slack, Jira, GitHub, or Confluence.
Required Documents
Resume
Cover Letter