Research Scientist

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

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced molecular biologist to work as a key scientific team member on the development, modification, and Application of cutting edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, multiomics and related technologies.

The successful applicant will: 1) play a key role in developing and rigorously testing new methods in the above areas; 2) collaborate on the execution and publication of studies that report and apply the above methods and their use to unlock new biology. 3) conduct benchmarking and quality-control studies of new and existing platforms.

Essential Job Duties

• Work directly with Senior Scientist Dr. Brian Williams and with CI2 (Cell Interaction Initiative) and SPEC (Single-Cell Profiling Center) PIs, post docs, and grad students to execute projects that use state of the art transcriptomics and multiomics platforms (single-cell; single nucleus; spatial); test and assure quality control of assays; troubleshoot assays as needed.
• Attend and actively participate in experimental design meetings.
• Execute hands-on and often complex experiments.
• Oversee technician(s) doing experiments.
• Teach graduate students and post-docs how to prepare and run spatial, single-cell, and companion bulk experiments.
• Make presentations of designs; state of progress; and data obtained for group meetings.
• Work with the bioinformatics, computation, and statistics PIs and staff to help ensure smooth integration of data analysis plans developed in the study design phase, through wet-bench execution and primary data analysis.
• Apply mature scientific knowledge of best practices, protocols, and sound wet-bench molecular engineering.
• Acquire and apply a working knowledge of Caltech operations and regulations.
• Work with Dr. Williams and CI2 PIs to track projects, assess progress and adjust priorities and designs.
• Oversee ordering, processing, allocating platform supplies, manage resource/reagent expiration pipeline etc.

Basic Qualifications

• MS or equivalent experience in molecular, biochemical, cell or biological sciences.
• Relevant research experience of 5 years.
• Bring experience with prototyping, executing, and troubleshooting basic (non-automated) techniques of modern molecular biology on varied cell and tissue types.
• Bring experience and expertise with one or more of the following automated or semi-automated platforms:
  1. contemporary single-cell/single nucleus methods (eg transcriptome quantification, multiome assays, proteomics).
  2. one or more contemporary spatial transcriptomic assay platforms.
• Have interest, experience, and desire to work as part of a small team developing new methods; conducting benchmarking; and obtaining reference-grade data for internal Caltech and public release and publication as part of solving major biology and biomedical problems in the domain of cell identity and cell interactions.
• Experience working successfully with graduate students, post-doc researchers and interacting with PIs.
• Have interest in working on biologically diverse systems and projects.
• Have mid-level lab-pertinent computer skills including familiarity with Excel; software packages associated with existing commercial platforms such as Cell Ranger for 10X etc.
• Have interest in and ability to use new or custom data analysis pipelines, visualization tools and applicable AI, working with guidance of computational biologists and bioinformaticians.
• Willingness and ability to interface and work with specialists who manage large-scale databases and data visualization.
• Interest in working with the Caltech BI/CI2 robotics team when appropriate to scale up and automate assays for higher-throughput execution.
• Ability to contribute to grants and scientific papers, including drafting technology platform sections and helping with figures.
• Strong communication skills (both oral and electronic).
• Strong organizational skills to help manage team driver projects and collaborative “spoke” projects involving a diverse array of Caltech labs.
• Be highly motivated, responsible, and proactive.
• Effective in conveying concerns and experiment failures when they happen.
• Strong skills building and working in a cohesive team that collaborates with multiple labs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters or higher degree in biological, biochemical, genomic or related sciences
• Experience, including familiarity with plate based biochemical, nucleic acid based or cell-based assays.
• Experience with multiomics platforms and data.
• Experience in design and execution of high throughput CRISPR, siRNA, or GOF screens.
• Experience with Nanopore in its various uses for RNA and DNA sequencing.
• Familiarity with automated liquid handling platforms and collaboration with robotics experts for custom automation of assays.
• Python or R coding experience.
• Experience with AI-assisted coding and proofing
• Evolving routine careful use of AI tools.

Required Documents

• Resume.