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Lawrence Berkeley Lab

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Politics and Bureaucracy - Operations Lawrence Berkeley Lab Employee Review

3.0
Sep 13, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fascinating Science that is not done the same way at any other lab Good People - Great co workers Best place on earth for researchers, not so much for operations

Cons

Politics and Bureaucracy As almost all management come from within the Academic or University system, the Consensus driven approach to each and every challenge is mind numbing. Getting anyone to make a decision and put their foot down as " This is the way we must proceed to be successful" is impossible. Everything must be discussed until there is no energy left to "do"

Explore other reviews about Lawrence Berkeley Lab

5.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great collaborative environment, great views

Cons

Some parts are slower moving due to bureaucracy but LBNL is unique in that red taping is also loose in some areas allowing for quicker innovation

3.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

work life balance; World-Class User Facilities and Instruments, Top-Tier Scientific Collaboration

Cons

Temporary Nature of Early-Career Roles: For postdoctoral researchers, positions are inherently temporary. Securing a permanent Staff Scientist role at a national lab is notoriously difficult due to limited openings and highly competitive, lifelong tenures, which often forces researchers to look externally for long-term career growth.

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