Research Support Assistant [United States]

 

Research Support Assistant

Caltech

Job Category: Occasional
Exempt Overtime Eligible: 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 the California Institute of Technology invites applications for a part-time (20 hr/week) undergraduate summer hire for up to ten weeks to help interpret an unusual object discovered by citizen scientists on the Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 project. The object is a 4.5-micron bright elliptical ring that is not seen at any other wavelength and does not appear to have a source star. Some follow-up data have already been acquired of the field containing the ring and of an off-center object within the ring that is surrounded by its own, small nebula.

Essential Job Duties

You will be tasked with analyzing astrometric, photometric, and spectroscopic data on the ring and objects in its vicinity as part of a research project to help deduce the nature of the ring itself, or at least eliminate obvious possibilities (such as a planetary nebula, nova ejecta, etc.). You will be expected to write up your analysis of these data for an eventual refereed publication on this object, and you will be a prominent co-author. You will work closely with professional scientists who will help direct your workflow, but you are also welcomed to advance your own hypotheses and construct ways in which you would test their credibility.

Basic Qualifications

You should meet these basic qualifications to apply:

• Experience in programming (e.g., Python).
• Basic knowledge of astronomy, either through having taken an introductory astronomy class, attendance at a professional astronomy conference, involvement through a NASA citizen science project, etc.
• Good communication skills.
• Work permit allowing part-time employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Beyond these basic qualifications, there are a set of skills and experiences that will add to your ability to contribute to the project:

• Experience working with scientific data sets and use cases.
• Ability to work remotely and be self-motivated.

Required Documents

You should submit the following two items to apply:

• 1-page cover letter conveying your skills, experience, and passion.
• 1-page resume highlighting your qualifications, past awards, etc.

To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://hr.caltech.edu/work/job_openings

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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