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Lawrence Berkeley Lab

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Finance Operations favoritism over meritocracy - Principal Financial Analyst Lawrence Berkeley Lab Employee Review

2.0
Jun 5, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits are decent, offers pension after 5 years of service, some opportunity to grow, the science research side is generally positive to work with

Cons

Finance and Operations Management promotion based on favoritism and not meritocracy, depending on group, the environment can be toxic and management operates through fear, government bureaucracy, slow in change and improvements, complex systems, high ratio of lower skilled employees in comparison to private industry, inequity persists in terms of salary and work distribution and responsibilities

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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