Research Technician

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, Pasadena
May 28, 2026
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 Bjorkman Lab in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering is seeking a motivated individual to join as a Research Technician. The successful candidate will assist a multidisciplinary research team on one or more projects to study antibody response and immunization strategies as part of an effort to develop novel vaccines and antibody therapeutics against viral pathogens. Essential Job Duties Molecular biology tasks, including cloning (PCR, gel electrophoresis, sequencing, and validating constructs, etc.) and plasmid preparation. Transfection and maintenance of mammalian and yeast cell lines. Protein purification (affinity and size-exclusion chromatography). Western blotting and SDS-PAGE. Bioconjugations of proteins, ELISAs, and other assays. Flow cytometry and/or cell sorting. General lab duties, including buffer and reagent prep. Maintaining records. Other duties as assigned. Basic Qualifications BA or BS in Biology or related field, or an educational emphasis in Biology or Chemistry, required by date of hire. At least one year of hands-on wet lab experience in a biology or chemistry research laboratory. Must understand the basic workflow and operations of laboratory research processes. Must have good practical experience in all basic molecular biology techniques, especially the techniques related to the essential job duties. Experience with recombinant expression of proteins. Experience with purification of proteins (e.g., affinity, size exclusion, etc.). Mastery of buffer prep and calculations. Excellent organization and communication skills (oral and written). Ability to work in a team environment. Preferred Qualifications A background in immunology, molecular biology, or structural biology. Flow cytometry experience. Experience working with yeast and/or phage display systems. BSL-2 experience. Transfection and maintenance of mammalian or yeast cell lines. Required Documents Resume Cover Letter 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. 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.