Wonderful Experience - Chemist RTI International Employee Review

4.0
Sep 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I really enjoyed my time working at RTI. I was hired right after earning my bachelor's degree in Chemistry and it was a fantastic experience. I didn't have a lot of experience directly coming out of college, and they really took the time to train me and teach me new techniques. I got along very well with my coworkers and I am still in touch with a couple of them even today. One of my previous bosses even wrote a recommendation for me for a training grant I was applying for during graduate school. PTO (which includes sick time) is earned at a rate per month equivalent to 4 weeks/year and benefits started Day 1.

Cons

As a bachelor degree scientist, the opportunity to move to management was minimal (though that is understandable). The starting pay was lower than expected, though it is a non-profit.

Explore other reviews about RTI International

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

RTI has a good mission

Cons

Adaptation to sudden federal funding loss.

3.0
Jun 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote work and reasonable working hours

Cons

If you're a PhD who enjoys research and hopes to use empirical research skills at a research institute, you'll likely be disappointed as I was. Projects in my business unit were largely implementation projects that required very little creativity or data analysis. I was told by my manager that empirical-research projects are harder to come by and when those opportunities do arise, everyone wants them. Even then, project directors are very unwilling (in my experience) to let you branch out to other projects. Using any overhead time to work on your own research is also discouraged, so I ended up working on manuscripts in my personal time. And there's no funding to attend conferences either. On top of all of this, constant layoffs create an aura of uncertainty and the feeling that you're lucky to even be there even when compensation for similar roles in private sector is far better.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All