Research Technician

Caltech; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Caltech is seeking a Research Technician to provide hands-on support for quantitative, cell-based experiments in cultured mammalian cells. The role focuses on flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, under supervision of senior lab members, with emphasis on data collection and maintenance of cell lines and reagents.

The candidate will assist with mammalian cell culture, transfection, labeling, and treatments, plus routine molecular biology workflows and initial data analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a life sciences or engineering field with at least 1 year of relevant laboratory experience.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique.
• Familiarity with standard molecular biology methods (cloning, RNA isolation, PCR/qPCR).
• Exposure to fluorescence-based measurements (flow cytometry or microscopy).
• Basic data analysis skills using Python or R.
• Accurate record-keeping and ability to follow detailed protocols in a team setting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with quantitative cell-based experiments under supervision, following established protocols (cell culture, transfection, labeling, perturbations).
• Acquire single-cell data by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy and support data organization and preliminary analysis.
• Perform routine molecular biology procedures (cloning, plasmid and mRNA prep, RNA isolation, qPCR, siRNA knockdown).
• Support data analysis using computational pipelines and help prepare figures and summaries for senior review.

Skills

Cell culture

Aseptic technique

Data analysis (Python/R)

Documentation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in life sciences or engineering

Tools

Flow cytometry

Fluorescence microscopy

Job description

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

The Research Technician will provide hands-on support for quantitative, cell-based experiments studying protein function and signaling circuits in cultured mammalian cells, working primarily with flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy under the guidance of senior lab members. The position supports ongoing research in quantitative cell biology by assisting with experiment setup and execution, routine data collection, and maintenance of cell lines and reagents.

• Assist with quantitative cell-based experiments under supervision, following established protocols: mammalian cell culture, transfection, fluorescent labeling, and treatment with ligands or other perturbations.
• Assist in acquiring single-cell data by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, and support routine data organization and preliminary analysis.
• Assist with routine molecular biology procedures, including cloning, plasmid and mRNA preparation, RNA isolation, qPCR, and siRNA-mediated knockdown, following established protocols.
• Support data analysis using established computational pipelines and help prepare figures and summaries of results for review by senior lab members.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor\'s degree in a life sciences or engineering field and a minimum of 1 year of relevant laboratory experience.
• Some hands-on experience with mammalian cell culture and aseptic technique (through coursework, internships, or prior lab work).
• Familiarity with standard molecular biology methods, such as cloning, RNA isolation, and PCR or qPCR.
• Exposure to fluorescence-based measurements, such as flow cytometry or microscopy.
• Basic data analysis skills using Python, R, or comparable tools.
• Accurate record-keeping, strong organization, and the ability to follow detailed protocols and work well as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or hands-on experience with flow cytometry or fluorescence microscopy instrumentation.
• Exposure to cell signaling pathways or genetically encoded biosensors.
• Familiarity with Python or R for basic scientific data analysis.
• Some prior experience with mRNA transfection, siRNA knockdown, or routine cell line maintenance.

Required Documents

• Resume

Hiring Range

$19.00 - $25.75 Per Hour
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our benefits and staff perks .

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail] .

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at [e-mail] .