Research Technician

California-Institute-of-Technology; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

403(b) plan

On-site daycare

Athenaeum club membership

Job summary

California Institute of Technology's IPAC invites applications for a Research Technician to work with scientists on investigating variations of the dust extinction curve in very dense Galactic star-forming environments. This is a 9-month term position with an expected start date in September 2026.

As an IPAC Research Technician, you will analyze spectroscopic data from the JWST NIRSpec Multi-Shatter Array toward Galactic molecular cores at different evolutionary stages, correct spectra for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant research or technical experience.
• Experience working in collaborative or distributed research environments.

Responsibilities

• Downloading and validating the NIRSpec spectroscopic data produced by the JWST standard reduction pipeline.
• Correcting each observed spectrum for the stellar photosphere contribution.
• Fitting the residual signal – the dust extinction curve - with a 1-component and a 2-component power-law.
• Modeling the extinction curve derived for each line of sight using state-of-the-art dust models with the goal of estimating the grain size distribution.
• Aggregating the results for all the lines of sight towards a given molecular cores and providing a statistical interpretation.

Skills

Python

Spectroscopic data

JWST familiarity

Team collaboration

Bachelors degree

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, or related field

PhD in Astronomy or Physics

Tools

Python

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

IPAC at Caltech has an opening for a Research Technician position to work with scientists on investigating variations of the dust extinction curve in very dense Galactic star-forming environments. This is a 9-month term job position with an expected start date of September 2026.

IPAC, part of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy Division at Caltech (www.caltech.edu), provides science operations, user support, data and archive services, and scientific vision to maximize discovery with observatories both in space and on the ground.

As an IPAC Research Technician, you will analyze spectroscopic data from the JWST NIRSPec Multi-Shatter Array (MSA) instrument towards 3 Galactic molecular cores at different evolutionary stages (i.e., pre-stellar, collapsing and star forming); you will correct each observed spectrum for the contribution of stellar photospheres; and they will model the residual signal (i.e., the extinction curve) using state-of-the-art dust models.

You will work with scientist Dr. Roberta Paladini on the following tasks related to the investigation of variations of dust extinction in the dense interstellar medium:

• Downloading and validating the NIRSPec spectroscopic data produced by the JWST standard reduction pipeline;
• Correcting each observed spectrum for the stellar photosphere contribution;
• Fitting the residual signal – the dust extinction curve - with a 1-component and a 2-component power-law;
• Modeling the extinction curve derived for each line of sight using state-of-the‑art dust models with the goal of estimating the grain size distribution;
• Aggregating the results for all the lines of sight towards a given molecular cores and providing a statistical interpretation.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Astronomy, Physics, or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant research or technical experience
• Experience working in collaborative or distributed research environments

Preferred Qualifications

Beyond these basic qualifications, there are skills and experiences which will give you a head start here. If you have experience in a few of these areas, you will hit the ground running, but even if these don’t yet describe you and your experience, we would still like to hear from you:

• PhD in Astronomy, Physics, or a related field
• 2+ years of research experience post-PhD in astronomy or astrophysics
• Familiarity with spectroscopic data and JWST
• Proficiency with python

Required Documents

• Resume
• Names and Contact information of 3 professional references

Life at IPAC

People choose to work at IPAC for many reasons, and our casual, employee‑centric culture often leads to fulfilling, long‑term careers and positive relationships. Whether in science, engineering, or administration, IPAC staff share a unique sense of pride in knowing their individual talents support human discovery.

Unlike traditional corporate tech, IPAC emphasizes sustainable workloads and a healthy work‑life balance: after-hours work is rare, shared across the operations team, and typically limited to exceptional situations. We actively support ongoing professional development, including training, conferences, and skill development aligned with your career goals. Caltech’s benefits program offers a highly competitive benefits package, an exceptional 403(b) defined contribution plan, and access to campus facilities including the athletic center, libraries, on‑site daycare, and Athenaeum club membership.

Hiring Range

$29.75 - $39.00 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] .