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Lawrence Berkeley Lab

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a good stepping stone - Anonymous employee Lawrence Berkeley Lab Employee Review

4.0
Feb 20, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Innovative and cross-disciplinary. You'll be exposed to the best in science in terms of people and resources. If you like academic research, but hate the mismanagement and paltry resources that come along with it at most colleges and universities, this is a great place.

Cons

Full time positions are hard to get, in fact practically nonexistent.If you are a contractor, expect to stay a contractor. There is no path to moving up in the institution and people to fill any open positions will almost always come from external sources. Funding is dependent upon the federal government's whims.

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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