employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Lawrence Berkeley Lab

Is this your company?

Nice place to work - Geological Postdoctoral Fellow Lawrence Berkeley Lab Employee Review

3.0
Aug 18, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

A good place to start a career with nice salary, good benefit package, and prestigious name. It is possible to participate in some big research projects and get some really good publications.

Cons

Postdoc is really low in the food chain. Even for senior members, they have quite some pressures to get funded to cover their salaries. Therefore, you are pretty much on your own to get the job done. Senior members don't have much time to give guidance on your projects as in Universities. The direction of research projects changes a lot really depending on the DOE funds. Therefore, you might work on different projects. Some might fit your background and interests, some might not.

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.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All