EAS Postdoctoral Scholar Resources

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G. Ravichandran

Dear EAS Postdoctoral Scholars,

Welcome to Caltech and the Division of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS). We have created this information page to help you connect with people and resources that can enrich your research and educational experiences at Caltech. I encourage you to stop by the EAS Division Office in the Gates-Thomas Building to meet our Postdoctoral Scholar Specialist, Maria Cervantes, who is a valuable resource for you. I also hope that you participate in the many events and lectures across campus including many organized by the Caltech Postdoctoral Association and the Caltech Diversity Center.

I still fondly remember my time as a Caltech postdoctoral scholar in GALCIT, which had a transformative effect on my career and life. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to broaden my research interests, and connect with people from various disciplines across the campus. It was also a time to enjoy all that Caltech had to offer including outstanding lectures and cultural events, and stimulating discussions over lunches at the Athenaeum.

Wishing you much success in all of your research and career endeavors,

Guruswami (Ravi) Ravichandran
Otis Booth Leadership Chair, Division of Engineering and Applied Science
John E. Goode, Jr., Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
California Institute of Technology

What's Next


To check in, make an appointment with Martha Espinosa in Staff and HR Scholar Services. Foreign nationals must first make an appointment with International Scholar Services.

Get acquainted with the Engineering and Applied Science Division and Departments before your arrival:


Key Contacts


EAS Representative

Burigede Liu
Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate in Mechanical & Civil Engineering

The role of the Division Representative is to interface with Caltech administrators at the Division level, serve as an ombudsman for Division postdocs, help plan (in coordination with the Division) activities for postdocs, and present ideas, issues, and concerns of Division postdocs to the entire Caltech postdoc community.

Title XI

Ofelia Velazquez-Perez
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Title XI at Caltech

FAQ

Does Caltech offer housing?

The Caltech Housing Office manages one building for Postdocs. The building has 40 apartments available to new Caltech Postdocs who are within the first year of their Caltech Postdoc appointment. All of the units have two-bedrooms and two-bathrooms and most of them are unfurnished. We have furnished a small number of apartments and rent the bedrooms in these units individually where Postdocs share the common space. For more information please go to: Caltech Housing.

How do I find off-campus housing?

If you want to live within walking/biking distance from Caltech (~ 1 mile), you should look for an apartment with the boundaries of North Walnut Avenue / East Sierra Madre Blvd / South California Avenue / West Los Robles Avenue.

Other nearby communities include Altadena (5 miles north Pasadena), La Canada (8 miles west Pasadena), Sierra Madre (north east border with Pasadena), South Pasadena (South East border with Pasadena) and San Marino (south border with Pasadena). If you are willing to commute, you might be able to find cheaper housing in communities farther away. For more information please go to: International Offices.

How do I look at my health care benefits/insurance?

Caltech offers you the following health care benefits:

  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Medical Evacuation and Repatriation (MER) Plan

For a summary of benefits offered to Caltech postdoctoral scholars please go to: Caltech Benefits

As an international scholar, do I need to do anything to receive my social security number (SSN) prior to my arrival?

Do not apply for the SSN before your check-in at Human Resources or with the Faculty Records Office.

If Human Resources provides you with SSN application assistance, your Social Security card will be mailed to Caltech. Once it is received, you will be contacted so that you can pick it up from Human Resources. While you are waiting for your SSN application to be processed, you will receive pay from Caltech. For more information please go to: International Offices