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Caltech (California)

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Staff Scientist - Anonymous employee Caltech (California) Employee Review

5.0
Sep 18, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

In my experience it is a good position to be in, but it depends on the advisor for sure. It costs more for a lab to hire someone with this status but it works well if you have complementary skill sets to the lab and there is a high long term need for your skills. The work/life balance is really great and there is less pressure than that in a faculty position.

Cons

There is risk in that it is not a tenure track position but you can be proactive and apply for your own funding to try to ensure there is money for your salary

Explore other reviews about Caltech (California)

5.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great environment, lots of interesting talks going on every day

Cons

Lack of dining options, society too small

5.0
Jun 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I really like the people I work with. Managers promote psychological safety and follow through with their commitments . My direct managers are interested in my growth and professional development. There are a lot of affinity groups to connect with. Overall a great community to be a part of. Caltech has good benefits and even mental health counseling available for staff.

Cons

Because the campus is lightly administered/decentralized, policies can vary a lot by department, which can make things really confusing for the initial period. However, if you’re open to talking to others and making connections, it can go a long way in helping you figure out how things work on campus. Another negative is that departmental culture can vary. Working as an admin in one department may be much more difficult than in another department.

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