Funding Crisis - Graduate Research Assistant Penn State Employee Review

1.0
Jul 23, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

State College is a nice quiet and a quite safe place to reside in.

Cons

Department offers admission to more students than available funded projects and later just fail students during candidacy exam. Work environment is not friendly. Most students are international who are already too invested to go back home and so they are desperate and would do anything to survive the job. Publications are also very difficult to get so it is hard to show any accomplishments.

Explore other reviews about Penn State

5.0
Jun 21, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Friendly professor and professional staff

Cons

Reassignment can take longer and can be a tedious process

5.0
Jun 19, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My supervisor was fantastic: provided good feedback, flexibility in work schedule, opportunities for professional growth.

Cons

Usually 1-2 year contract, determined by grant funding and availability Workplace experience is more dependent on the individual researcher/research lab you end up working for than the university as a whole

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