Excellent Infrastructure and research support - Research Associate Penn State Employee Review

4.0
Nov 19, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The University Park campus, especially, has great infrastructure to support social science research. Excellent benefits, supportive work environment, and great sense of community. The integration between the colleges through University wide institutes and collaboratives to generate NIH grant submissions and promote interdisciplinary work is incredibly beneficial for researchers at all levels.

Cons

Location is lovely IF you prefer a small college town and rural living and because of location, salaries for non-tenure(track) faculty and staff are not competitive with other areas of the US. At times, it appears there is a lot of turnover in faculty because it is difficult to attract and keep researchers in the area. Travel is often very difficult and limited.

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5.0
Jun 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They were very flexible with hours and it was a fun place to work. There was lots of downtime to do other things while on the clock, and an e-bike to get around campus quickly.

Cons

Toward the end they got pretty strict about keeping your computer on a certain tab to take online tickets, and you could get in trouble for not doing it. It’s tedious work overall.

4.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

flexibility. I'm on a fellowship I won with a great advisor. It is not so good for others.

Cons

An inherently liminal position with severely reduced benefits.

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