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Staff Scientist"Work life balance is the biggest advantage" (in 116 reviews)
"The Lab cares about your career growth Love working for such a great place" (in 35 reviews)
"Being a government contractor does mean there is a lot of red tape" (in 40 reviews)
"Of course, the cost of living in the Bay Area makes the 'good' salaries not reach as far" (in 16 reviews)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 8 years)
Pros
work/life balance, matrix team work
Cons
The overhead is too high.
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
As a scientist at the Lab, I have had a range of 'jobs,' all interesting and relevant to the needs of the country. I have done some great research and also worked in a more applied/operational area. My work life balance is pretty great and teamwork has been a total plus within the groups I have been a part of. The benefits are excellent as well.
Cons
While pay is good, the process to increase your pay is in small steps, so you have to take the long view regarding your salary trajectory. Of course, the cost of living in the Bay Area makes the 'good' salaries not reach as far. There is the bureaucracy associated with working at a national lab, of course, but I have adjusted to that as a necessary evil. Also, the priorities of sponsors can sometimes change faster than we are able to which means you can end up being tasked with a lot of short turnaround offshoot projects that are aimed to impress sponsors and bring in more money. These are not always effective.
Advice to Management
Continue the work toward making the Lab a flexible, diverse, and welcoming work environment. The changes are being felt around the lab and they are welcomed.
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 5 years)
Pros
challenging, important work in the national interest
Cons
high pressure, short deadlines, easy to get over subscribed
Helpful (2)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 10 years)
Pros
Need to think hard to find a good reason. As a scientist, I can tell that science is treated arbitrarily, no evaluation takes place, and ranking and salary increases are determined solely by the management. Nothing good as far as I am concerned.
Cons
Non-existing morale, arbitrary treatment of scientists, suppressing debate, funding given on the basis of personal acquaintance and need of funding rather than worth of ideas, Also see above.
Advice to Management
The management displays a complete lack of honor in handling scientific work. It is completely disinterested in the quality of the science especially in the area of stockpile stewardship. Advice? Turn it 180 degrees.
Helpful (1)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 3 years)
Pros
- The Lab works at the frontier of technological and scientific innovation. As such, the work can be extremely challenging, but very rewarding at the same time.
- Work/life flexibility is excellent and the benefits are superior to anything I have seen in industry.
- Some of the brightest minds in the world work at this facility, so there is always something to learn from someone and there are always interesting things happening.
Cons
- Given the nature of the work, the performance expectations from management and sponsors are extremely high. This results in a very stressful work environment.
- Things move on the geologic timescale at this facility, so sometimes it can take much longer to accomplish things than desired.
Advice to Management
- The management should work more closely with new employees to help them become acclimated to the laboratory missions, structure, and culture.
Helpful (1)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 10 years)
Pros
multidisciplinary research and development, training opportunities, national security mission
Cons
bureaucratic, leadership lacks long-term vision,
Helpful (5)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 10 years)
Pros
Absolutely wonderful location in the San Francisco bay area, RELATIVELY affordable to live near by (in Livermore), and lots of opportunities to work on really unique and interesting projects. The people you meet there are absolutely the best part about working at a DOE national lab. Lots of employee activities through the abundant networking groups.
Cons
Lots of regulations and rules to follow. Compensation is very slow to respond to added responsibility. And if you have to deal with Washington DC, the politics might be more than some people can handle.
Advice to Management
Try to find what people are good at and focus them on that. Too many good scientists are bad managers. Promotion to management should be because of management aptitude, not because of technical achievement.
Helpful (3)
I have been working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory full-time (More than 8 years)
Pros
The ability to do "big" science and collaborate with high quality scientists
Cons
Stifling restrictions that have increased costs and crippled the lab's personnel from executing their job.
Advice to Management
Figure it out. The lab's productivity and moral have been on a downward spiral. The attrition rate of high quality scientists is a clear signal that things need to be desperately change. Instead looking to Washington for answers, which will all know is pointless, find innovative solutions to cut cost and navigate DOE regulations to boost productivity.
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Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Response
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