Position Description

Research Support Assistant

Job Category
Occasional

ExemptOvertimeEligible
Overtime Eligible

Benefits Eligible
Non-Benefit Based

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 at the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI) at Caltech has the need for an occasional Research Support Assistant to work with scientists to work with the NASA Exoplanet Archive / ExoFOP to assess the variability of stars that are targets for the Pandora Mission. Pandora is a NASA small satellite mission, launched in January 2026, designed to determine how stellar variability may affect the determination of the composition of planetary atmospheres through transit spectroscopy. The successful applicant will work with the team to process supporting ground-based photometric light curve data and assist in the determination of the variability of stars. The analysis will involve processing the photometric time series data into photometric light curves and developing algorithms to quantify the variability of the stars. All data will then be uploaded to ExoFOP in support of the Pandora mission.

Caltech is more than a world-renowned science and engineering research and education institution; it is a community - a community of curious and passionate individuals who collaborate to understand and solve complex scientific and societal challenges. Caltech is an award-winning workplace and one of the best places to work in the greater Los Angeles area. Exceptional employees are critical to Caltech’s success. 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. For more information and activities, please visit IPAC website (https://ipac.caltech.edu). This is 3 month term position.

Essential Job Duties

As an IPAC Research Support Assistant, you will work with scientist David Ciardi on tasks related to his research stellar variability:

• Download and process time series data from the LCO archive into photometric light curves for Pandora stars observed over the past year.
• Quantify the variability of the stars as measured by the LCO photometric light curve data.
• Upload data and results to ExoFOP in support of the Pandora Mission.

Basic Qualifications

• High School Diploma.
• Some high school/college-level courses in physics, astronomy, engineering or related discipline.
• Working knowledge of Python.
• Knowledge of a computing environment (Mac or PC).
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experienced in working with and programming in python.
• Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) software.

Required Documents

• Cover Letter.
• Resume.

Deadline: April 6, 2026.

Hiring Range

$19.00 - $21.00 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.