New

Research Scientist

California Institute of Technology
vision insurance, parental leave, paid time off, sick time, tuition reimbursement
United States, California, Pasadena
Sep 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 We are seeking a motivated biochemist and structural biologist to join the Bjorkman Lab as a Research Scientist. The successful candidate will lead efforts to design and evaluate pan-coronavirus immunogens and use structural biology to aid in our understanding of immune responses. The biochemist will perform scientific research aimed at designing immunogens to elicit broad responses to coronaviruses and structurally characterizing antibodies and antigens. They will work directly with the PI on designs and modifications to experimental techniques and procedures. Essential Job Duties Characterize designed immunogens structurally and functionally, including expression and purification, binding studies, and structural studies. Perform animal immunization experiments to evaluate the immunogenicity of designed immunogens. Evaluate the immune response for binding, neutralization, and specificity. Perform research to determine the structural basis of immune recognition of antigens, including assessing binding of antibodies to immunogens and solving and analyzing antibody-antigen structures. Will organize and conduct experiments to study and investigate scientific problems. Work directly with PI, other lab members and collaborators on designing experiments, analyzing results, and writing scientific papers. Research work will be presented at seminars and conferences applicable to structural biology field; the candidate will participate in lab discussions and group meetings. Basic Qualifications Ph.D. in Biology, Chemistry, or related field. Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral and/or biotech experience, including protein biochemistry, protein expression, purification, and characterization. Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in structural biology (Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and/or X-ray crystallography). Minimum of 5 years of experience in vaccine design or evaluation in animals models. Must be able to develop solutions to complex problems that require the regular use of ingenuity, creativity, and analysis of situations or data that require and in-depth evaluation of criteria for obtaining results. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and leadership/mentoring skills. Required Documents Resume. Hiring Range $78,000 - $120,000 Per Year 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.