Research Assistant II Reviews

Cons: There's a lot of frustrating bureaucracy here, as can be expected at a large organization. This is particularly bad with respect to procurement of research supplies. An item that could arrive in two to three days takes a minimum of one week to arrive, and as long as a month. Incompetent people are often entrenched in their positions. I often have to do my work and theirs to advance my projects. Sometimes this isn't possible, however, which causes long delays. Work/life balance in my position is not a given - you have to be very protective of personal time or it will not be respected. Institutional funding for research is poor, and in contrast to bureaucratic positions, security in research positions is non-existent. Continuity of federal funding is the only way to stay secure. Even momentary lapses are not tolerated. A PI and his entire staff were recently laid off two months prior to his R01 running out. Respect is reserved for physicians. You either are one, or you aren't.