Lawrence Berkeley Lab reviews

Salary is low, the lab is more invested in retaining quality senior staff than in promoting and retaining quality postdocs.

Highly unstructured and I did not feel personally cared for as an employee. I came in with a very clear message that I was seeking laboratory bench experience, and I definitely got this, but my mentor was not great at explaining the work and only got frustrated with me when I wasn't understanding. I saw other mentors were different, so my case might just be specific, but from what I understand from the other interns coming from the college is that the post doc mentors are very busy and unless you have good chemistry and communication with your mentor, it's going to be you by yourself figuring out your own problems with little help. Don't expect a bachelor's pay even if you got your degree. Prepare to live and breathe your job for little pay because the lab culture expects you to devote your free time to your work. The people who can do this are amazing, but it is very mentally draining to be here. Work-life balance does not exist here.