New

PostBAC Research Assistant

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, Pasadena
Jul 22, 2025
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 postbac will undertake analysis of existing Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data of 15 ultracompact binaries discovered by the Caltech Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). Computer code already exists for producing spectra from the HST data. The postbac will extract phase-resolved spectra from the HST data, characterize the spectra including any emission or absorption lines, attempt to estimate radial velocities (RVs) from the lines, and combine the information with photometric data from ZTF and other Palomar data. The research will represent the one of the most complete HST spectral analyses ever performed on a set of ultracompact stellar binaries. The postbac will work within the environment of the ZTF stellar research group at Caltech, which includes graduate students, postdocs, staff scientists, and faculty. Interactions with other faculty and students in the Cahill Laboratory for Astrophysics will be encouraged. The postbac will work closely with Professor Tom Prince, PI on the Caltech HST grant. Essential Job Duties Testing existing code for extraction of spectra from HST data. Evaluation of quality of HST data for individual sources and determination of optimal strategy for separating data into phase-resolved measurements. Characterization of the HST spectra to estimate, temperature, log-g, and other quantities. Identification of emission and absorption lines. Estimation of RVs of prominent lines. Producing a written report giving details of the analysis results. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Astronomy or related field, such as CS. Basic understanding of Astronomy. Ability to read and write code in Python. Preferred Qualifications Experience in astronomical data analysis. Basic understanding of at least one class of binary stellar system. Required Documents CV. Hiring Range $18.50 - $20.00 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. To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf. Disability Accommodations 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 employment@caltech.edu. 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 employment@caltech.edu.