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Lawrence Berkeley Lab

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soft money + freedom - Anonymous employee Lawrence Berkeley Lab Employee Review

3.0
Jul 11, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get a fair bit of freedom, the campus is pretty, access to seminars and smart people

Cons

living on soft money is painful. In my field (applied energy sciences), the funders fund uninspiring work and micromanage projects. It's not LBNL's fault, but the whole environment stifles creativity.

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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