diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index 7a0536d99..ad9de9469 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -171,8 +171,14 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         sudo apt-get update
         sudo apt-get install -y protobuf-compiler
+        
+        pip install tensorflow
 
-        pip install .
+        protoc -I=. --python_out=. $(find orbax/experimental/model/core/ -name "*.proto")
+        echo "!!! After protoc"
+        ls -l orbax/experimental/model/core/protos/
+
+        pip install -e .
         pip install .[testing] -f https://storage.googleapis.com/jax-releases/libtpu_releases.html
         if [[ "${{ matrix.jax-version }}" == "newest" ]]; then
           pip install -U jax jaxlib
@@ -181,3 +187,6 @@ jobs:
         else
           pip install "jax==${{ matrix.jax-version }}" "jaxlib==${{ matrix.jax-version }}"
         fi
+    - name: Test with pytest
+      run: |
+        pytest orbax/experimental/model/core/python/
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/module_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/module_test.py
index fdea2fd45..bfcc9417d 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/module_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/module_test.py
@@ -157,4 +157,4 @@ def fn_2(inputs):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/save_lib_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/save_lib_test.py
index c2d371236..f29c20c16 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/save_lib_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/save_lib_test.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import os
 from typing import Tuple
 
+from absl.testing import absltest
 import jax
 from jax import export as jax_export
 import jax.numpy as jnp
@@ -33,8 +34,6 @@
 from orbax.experimental.model.core.python.shlo_function import ShloFunction
 import tensorflow as tf
 
-from absl.testing import absltest
-
 save = save_lib.save
 Tensor = concrete_function.Tensor
 Function = concrete_function.ConcreteFunction
@@ -70,10 +69,11 @@ def jax_spec_to_tensor_spec(x: jax.ShapeDtypeStruct) -> TensorSpec:
   return TensorSpec(shape=x.shape, dtype=dtype_from_np_dtype(x.dtype))
 
 
-class SaveTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class SaveTest(absltest.TestCase):
   # TODO(qidichen): We can move relevant parts of test from orbax/experimental/model/integration_tests/orbax_model_test.py here.
   def test_save(self):
     pass
 
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/node_builder_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/node_builder_test.py
index 798338fa0..95cd6212d 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/node_builder_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/node_builder_test.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 DataType = types_pb2.DataType
 
 
-class NodeBuilderTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class NodeBuilderTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def test_add_nodes(self):
     builder = node_builder.NodeBuilder()
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ def test_add_nodes(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/nodes_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/nodes_test.py
index ef1872b46..b2d5ce7f2 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/nodes_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/nodes_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 OpType = nodes.OpType
 
 
-class NodesTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class NodesTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def assertProtoEqual(self, a, b):
     compare.assertProto2Equal(self, a, b)
@@ -102,4 +102,4 @@ class FakeNode(Node):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/saved_model_builder_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/saved_model_builder_test.py
index 96f3d411d..89cb48cdb 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/saved_model_builder_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/saved_model_builder_test.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def jax_spec_to_tensor_spec(x: jax.ShapeDtypeStruct) -> TensorSpec:
   )
 
 
-class SavedModelBuilderTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class SavedModelBuilderTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def test_build_with_function_aliases(self):
     @jax.jit
@@ -110,4 +110,4 @@ def f(xy, captured):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/tensor_proto_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/tensor_proto_test.py
index 237b4aff9..c69b5f60e 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/tensor_proto_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/saved_model_proto/tensor_proto_test.py
@@ -72,4 +72,4 @@ def test_string_list(self):
       self.assertEqual(s, back_tensor.np_array[n])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/simple_orchestration_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/simple_orchestration_test.py
index fa72cb71f..ec85965ee 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/simple_orchestration_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/simple_orchestration_test.py
@@ -146,4 +146,4 @@ def f():
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/tree_util_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/tree_util_test.py
index e97fe1806..33fe284a8 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/tree_util_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/tree_util_test.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class TreeUtilTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class TreeUtilTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def setUp(self):
     super().setUp()
@@ -79,4 +79,4 @@ def assert_int(x: Any) -> None:
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/type_proto_util_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/type_proto_util_test.py
index 300b80ab4..aac9833ee 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/type_proto_util_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/type_proto_util_test.py
@@ -238,4 +238,4 @@ def test_manifest_type_to_shlo_tensor_spec_tree(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/unstructured_data_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/unstructured_data_test.py
index 50a3d77cb..8c9fd04f1 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/unstructured_data_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/unstructured_data_test.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class UnstructuredDataTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class UnstructuredDataTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def test_write_inlined_string_to_file(self):
     proto = unstructured_data.UnstructuredData()
@@ -119,4 +119,4 @@ def test_maybe_write_location_pointer_to_file(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/compat_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/compat_test.py
index fa4e86718..085339cb9 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/compat_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/compat_test.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class CompatTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class CompatTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def testCompatValidEncoding(self):
     self.assertEqual(compat.as_bytes("hello", "utf8"), b"hello")
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ def testCompatInvalidEncoding(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/naming_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/naming_test.py
index 3241be3c8..01d93b2da 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/naming_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/naming_test.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class NamingTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class NamingTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def test_validate_node_name(self):
     self.assertTrue(naming.is_valid_node_name('correct_name_1534'))
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ def test_validate_node_name(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/object_identity_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/object_identity_test.py
index 1bf1173ed..6f9ce7b65 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/object_identity_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/core/python/util/object_identity_test.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class ObjectIdentityWrapperTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class ObjectIdentityWrapperTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def testWrapperNotEqualToWrapped(self):
     class SettableHash(object):
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def __hash__(self):
       bool(o in set([wrap1]))
 
 
-class ObjectIdentitySetTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class ObjectIdentitySetTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def testDifference(self):
     class Element(object):
@@ -96,4 +96,4 @@ def testClear(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/jax_specific_info_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/jax_specific_info_test.py
index 29f05be41..0b7031cf1 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/jax_specific_info_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/jax_specific_info_test.py
@@ -172,4 +172,4 @@ def test_to_shlo_dtype_and_refinement_wrong_type(self, jax_dtype):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/main_lib_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/main_lib_test.py
index dacfc7a18..9b2eae59f 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/main_lib_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/main_lib_test.py
@@ -1205,4 +1205,4 @@ def get_mesh():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/obm_to_jax_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/obm_to_jax_test.py
index 6a6948b42..d3a50c1ac 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/obm_to_jax_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/obm_to_jax_test.py
@@ -538,4 +538,4 @@ def get_mesh():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/sharding_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/sharding_test.py
index 4ca2f18d9..3670e3587 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/sharding_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/jax2obm/sharding_test.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class ShardingTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class ShardingTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def get_mesh(self):
     def _create_mesh(devices) -> jax.sharding.Mesh:
@@ -182,4 +182,4 @@ def test_jax_mesh_to_obm_device_assignment_by_coords(self):
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_concrete_functions_to_obm_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_concrete_functions_to_obm_test.py
index b5980851b..2daaef239 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_concrete_functions_to_obm_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_concrete_functions_to_obm_test.py
@@ -422,4 +422,4 @@ def tf_fn(a):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()
diff --git a/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_function_def_to_obm_test.py b/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_function_def_to_obm_test.py
index 6218b7cbf..550c9d99a 100644
--- a/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_function_def_to_obm_test.py
+++ b/model/orbax/experimental/model/tf2obm/tf_function_def_to_obm_test.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from absl.testing import absltest
 
 
-class TfFunctionDefToObmTest(googletest.TestCase):
+class TfFunctionDefToObmTest(absltest.TestCase):
 
   def test_tf_concrete_function_to_unstructured_data_success(self):
 
@@ -56,4 +56,4 @@ def tf_pow(a):
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  googletest.main()
+  absltest.main()