Grad student in the Huck Institute of Life Sciences - NSF Graduate Research Fellow Penn State Employee Review

4.0
Aug 6, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great resources for research in terms of both lab facilities and digital journal access, decent medical, dental and vision insurance for graduate students

Cons

Disorganized and confusing administration with mash-up of departments, institutes, etc. Lots of redundant paperwork. For those of us on multi-year contracts, each year is like groundhog day with having to essentially be a new employee all over again, which can be frustrating, especially when you're in your third or fourth year and someone says they have no record of you.

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5.0
Jul 8, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible for students, reasonable wage for most roles

Cons

Some student positions have minimum shift times

3.0
Jul 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Decent Benefits, Nice Amounts of Time off

Cons

Staff are the lowest of the totem pole and you KNOW it. Pay not enough to live by yourself as a working adult in State College Area. Will waste your time if there's nothing to do by requiring you to sit there while faculty and admin get to "work from home" (they really don't) President Benepudi will probably give herself 2 more $1.5 million pay increases while you work there unable to afford a simple apartment by yourself.

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