Prevented form working by IT - Data Scientist Novartis Employee Review

1.0
Aug 14, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

In principle interesting projects and decent pay benchmarked to an industry average.

Cons

We are asked to do amazing data science and machine learning, but IT refuses to install anything modern like tensorflow, keras, xgboost and so on the severs. "Hey, just work on your 'fantastic' 8 GB dual core laptop that barely functions due to all the surveillance programs on it." Lots of talk and back-slapping, but management does not actually help associates get the roadblocks to doing actual work out of the way, then they bemoan a lack of a start-up mentality. If I were in a start up, at least I would have the tools to do my job without endless fights with an incompetent IT organization. There's also the fantastic conference meetings using Skype and VMR that are a constant nightmare. **IF** you manage to connect, you will randomly be unable to speak or unable to share your screen or be randomly disconnected or … It's amazing, free Skype on my personal phone is better than what we have in the shiny headquarters.

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5.0
May 24, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great company and benefits for an employee

Cons

I didn't see any con yet

2.0
May 25, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pays pretty well in comparison to similar jobs in the market

Cons

Unstable schedule where you are often asked to come in overnight (1-2 am) regardless of if you have worked the previous day or are off. Basically feels like you're permanently on-call to conduct environmental monitoring. Training is slow. The Micro dept in general is currently understaffed. The job also involves lab work once you are done with your daily environmental monitoring tasks. The work never ceases and the Technicians as a whole has several responsibilities. Promotions seem to come very slowly here.

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