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Princeton University

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Postdoctoral at Forrestal - Postdoctoral Research Associate Princeton University Employee Review

2.0
Mar 30, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Princeton has done a great job on integrating postdocs as part of the university staff and faculty. Everyone in the staff I met (HR, Housing, etc.) is incredibly friendly and helpful. Good resources and benefits (though the town is ridiculously expensive and boring).

Cons

If Forrestal campus was on main campus, I would have given this review 4-5 stars. However, once you get to Forrestal campus you lose the "Princeton" feeling completely. Here is why: - It is in the middle of no where, and is not accessible except by a car or the terrible head-sickening princeton shuttle that takes 30 mins to get there from Princeton station. -There is no cafeteria around to get a sandwich for lunch or a cup of coffee (including GFDL, where having a cup of coffee from the lobby during speakers visit is frowned upon). - Buildings are ancient, in miserable conditions with terrible infrastructure and a third-world-like technology, falling apart, and pose serious threat to the students and the staff. (GFDL gas leakage, intolerable background noise, dark parking lot, etc.) - You are completely disconnected from, and missing on, great resources and opportunities, and plethora of events happening on main campus (workshops, public talks, theaters, libraries, ...).

Explore other reviews about Princeton University

5.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

EVERYTHING WAS GREAT! Princeton is great to both work for and study at. Go TIGERS!

Cons

if you love princeton, princeton will love you back, no cons

2.0
May 12, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Incredible benefits, worth 40% of your salary. So much time off it's hard to use. Great health care, 36 hour work week (if your boss doesn't make you work more), slow-paced.

Cons

So much time off it's hard to use it all without losing it with annual rollover caps. Pay is terrible. In theory, you come for the benefits and the lighter, less frenetic workload but that very much depends on who your boss is and what team you work for. I worked for a very mismanaged research center where my manager expected everyone to be available 24 hours a day. Most PU departments operate at a snail's pace, no sense of urgency even on urgent things. Independent faculty doing cool things but the institution is very lowercase c conservative. No pathway for advancement, especially on smaller teams.

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