Lawrence Berkeley Lab reviews

depends on the PI you work with

This is very much a government job, where the those that are good at "networking"/sucking up and willing to put up with the madness the longest float to the top. Many of the people I work with outside of the projects are incredibly entitled and always anxious to give you their advice, which typically entail much more work for you, but never them as the "advisor". Policies are written very similarly. Whether or not you agree with that advice of that "expert", you are forced to take it, unless you wish to face bigger consequences. The environment is highly punitive and people are praised for finding someone to blame for mistakes that occur from human error. Project managers and construction managers are told they hold all responsibility for everything associated with the project, but they have no freedom of true authority. You are a slave to anything any particular expert wants, who really have the authority and little accountability or responsibility. The commitment to IDEA is a joke. Few minorities or women of color are lifted up, aside from a few token people obviously chosen more to meet a quota than for any displays of excellence.