postdoctoral fellow

research assistant

senior research technician

postdoctoral associate

research coordinator

Baylor College of Medicine

The school is a small, stand-alone medical college that has a small endowment and is currently spending its limited funds on building hospitals and investing in biotech (TMC Helix Park), so there's not much funding for research support. It's a shame. BCM built its reputation on research excellence in basic science and was once a top 10 research medical school.
 
 Unrealistically high expectations for faculty given inadequate level of support for research. No meaningful junior faculty mentoring. Junior, mid-career, and senior faculty experiencing funding gaps are basically pushed out. For most departments, PI's can't take postdocs or grad students in their labs unless they have R01 funding or equivalent. Extremely few training grant opportunities to support trainees, so funding for trainees often comes from the PI's own grant funding. There is no affiliated undergraduate campus, so it is difficult to recruit student interns and workers. 
 
 Nepotism is HUGE - admins and administrative staff have their own kids and friends working in other admin positions and big name PIs promote their favorites. As a result, it's super political. The Faculty Senate is a joke - the school is run with a completely top-down management style. Mostly MDs run the show. PhD's appear to be viewed as mere research staff. Few TT people make it to tenure - a lot of TT faculty are promoted to Associate Professor without tenure, meaning they don't even have the benefit of tenure. That said, getting tenure doesn't mean much - a tiny tuition benefit, 20% salary coverage, and your title. Everything else is on you. Very few opportunities to teach for FTE, and even then, the FTE is low. For PhD researchers, it's basically 100% soft money, and when you run out of funding, the school doesn't support you. MDs can cover salary with clinical work, but don't expect much protected time for research. There is no work-life balance. The school only offers 7 official holidays off per year, and although paid vacation and 4 days of "Floating Time Off" are available, it is difficult to take time off when the lab has so few personnel. Sexism and racism are a continual problem. Labs are siloed. 
 
 Since I started working at BCM, I've watched many promising research careers get killed here because of inadequate research support. Investigators with funding are recruited here, and then as soon as their funding dries up, they are pushed out. The emphasis in recent years has clearly been more on clinical revenue and, now, finding therapeutics, than it is on research. Look at the Board of Trustees - it's run by investment types; very few members have actual research experience. 
 
 I left as soon as I obtained R01 funding, for a place with better research support and more opportunities for trainee recruitment.

Steer clear of this place. There's a reason animal care attendants are dropping like flies. 

New hire training is a joke. You're lucky if you get three days to a week paired with another ACA who will only show you how to do a fraction of your typical tasks. After that, you're completely on your own and expected to know how to do everything. 

The workload is incredibly unrealistic, and anyone worth their salt who's experienced in animal research will say so. Management knows this and they do not care. They will continue piling extra assignments on you, and you will be forced to either rush your work or leave things incomplete due to time. They will belittle you and make you feel incompetent for asking for help. 

Don't bother going to your co-workers for anything. The social environment here is unbelievably toxic. Everyone is tense, stressed, and acts vicious towards each other. Your co-workers will purposefully try to get you in trouble and have no problem using you as a stepping stone for their own gain. 

Management is useless, draconian, and plays favorites. They refuse to understand that they are the reason behind the ridiculous turnover rate. Favorites of management are allowed to get away with animal neglect and other issues that any other staff would get fired for. If you stand up for yourself or someone else, or disrupt their little status quo in any way, you're probably getting fired. 

Work/life balance is not a thing here. You get 4 days off per month, which you will likely spend dreading returning to work. 

You will not advance here unless you break your back and kiss up to management. Deserving employees get denied promotions for nitpicky reasons. Pay is demoralizingly low and raises are nonexistent without a promotion. 

The only enjoyable thing is interacting with the few co-workers who genuinely care about their work, but they become passionless and eventually quit due to the horrible working conditions. 

Work for a research facility that will actually respect you and not make you beg for scraps. 

.  My I.T. experience gives me a unique ability to apply technology, in all its forms, to the business process.  Some of the business process knowledge includes accounting, finance, facilities, inventory control, budgeting, vendor management and various operational processes.

I have experience with merger/acquisition events, high growth challenges; technology replacement projects and IT process improvement. I have delivered large technology projects on schedule/on budget and in alignment with the business strategy.  I have earned a reputation as well-organized and articulate professional and have built a strong background of versatile experience in the area of Information Technology.  I believe my background and education would allow me to demonstrate my absolute positive regard for organizational goals.

Although I was highly regarded by my previous employer Baylor College of Medicine I was part of a reduction in the work force as they combined several departments.  My experience at Baylor was valuable.  Looking back I am especially proud of my ability to “see the big picture”. I have the ability to communicate effectively with all those I encounter.

I have been exposed to this environment and I recognize how vital IT is for the record keeping that is necessary for dealing with a high level of scrutiny. I offer the maturity and adaptability to move into a position with your organization and quickly become an asset.

The Department of Medicine’s typical  day was always stressful. High turnover rates and call outs. Favoritism is obvious and whoever the supervisor hand picks are the ones who benefits and have great days. If the staff or other MA’s have a personal disliking for you then you will not last. You will have good learning opportunities/experiences due to trainings and a ton of meetings. Management is Horrible, including supervisors and Admin. Some of the MA’s are always in the supervisor’s office trying to get another MA written up or terminated. The workplace culture in this department is very toxic and sometimes feels like working with rival gang members. Hardly anyone has integrity. The hardest part of the job in this department is dealing with immature MA’s, personal relationships amongst others, and having to tolerate their personal disliking for others. The supervisor is always seeking a way to get kudos from the Director even if she is throwing someone else under the bus. Dishonesty, a lack of empathy, judgmental, and far from excellence. This department doesn’t lead by example anything Baylor should represent. The only Good thing in this particular department is having Baylor’s benefits. You will get no raise, and your promotions are not based on skills and performance, but instead based on a project or implementing new ideas. The Department could be great with better leadership and non personal relationships. 

Baylor College of Medicine is full of long tenured employees. While that is good for job security, it means it is a stagnant culture and one that doesn't allow newcomers into their "clique". The first few months I had there were rough, with little support even from my manager. You have to figure things out on your own and if you get it wrong, be prepared to pay the price in the form of bad reviews. In my department there was a constant issue of attrition. Many good people came and left within a year because the culture was borderline toxic. Middle management who have issues with each other doesn't help that situation either. So many times I was in meetings and my manager would run down their contemporaries, then smile in their face during department meetings. That makes you wonder what they are saying about you when you aren't around. The issue is that senior management is fully aware of these problems, but don't want to do anything about it as they are just waiting to retire. 

With all that said, working in the Medical Center was interesting and I learned alot about how  medical schools are run. I appreciate that part, but the rest was a complete mess.

As a part-time intern, learning the ropes, its been fun and engaging. For the first year or so. Then you notice that your post-doc and lab assistant you work for are stressed, unhealthy, and work constantly. And the management seems content to "not notice" when their employees are going home at 9 pm when they got there at 9 am. Please report your overtime so you can get paid because management will take advantage otherwise.
Another thing, the pay. I have to work two hours in order to afford the parking garage for the day, and I think it is terrible. I have no benefits, paid time off, insurance, nothing. I was only paid what I managed to work after this February Freeze happened. and we had no light/water for most of the week. I have been working at Baylor for two years and not a single raise in all that time. I have asked about it several times, only to be given the runaround. Do yourself a favor. Avoid academia, where you sell your soul for research papers, and instead go to private industry, where you'll still sell your soul, but at least you have a greater chance of having a life outside of work without having to feel guilty about it.  

Administration Management Provide and coordinate effort in SAP budget and personnel administration for organizational unit.

Budget and Research Administration
Update all billing accounts for personnel, supplies and services. Research and reconcile all past accounts and charges.
Assist in preparation of grant applications. Develop budget for grant applications. Update compliance data for Biomedical Research Assurance Information Network (BRAIN) animal protocols. Submit renewals on Recombinant DNA, Animal, Biohazardous Agents and Radioactivity protocols.

Personnel Administration
Advise and provide managerial role in various functions of personnel administration.
IT Development & Management
Coordinate and oversee development of computerized systems to track all related research information. Use information systems to manage and improve laboratory effectiveness.

Research Management
Identify problems and streamline processes within the research environment to ensure organizational effectiveness. Provide research support on an as needed basis.

Avoid working in this department. No matter the position, you’ll end up taking on far more than your actual scope of practice. Technicians are constantly expected to juggle multiple roles with little to no support. 

Unless you constantly appease management, you’re often looked down upon. Speaking up about issues is discouraged - those who do will be labeled as “toxic” and will face retaliation.

The technical supervisor often appears unsure of her responsibilities and frequently speaks in circles to cover her mistakes. Staff scheduling is poorly managed, resulting in repeated errors that leave the department short-staffed and place extra strain on those who do show up.

The environment can feel toxic and unsupportive, with inconsistent policies. Management is often absent, working remotely, and difficult to reach when guidance/support is needed, leaving staff to navigate issues on their own.

Overall, this department would benefit from a thorough review by HR or the college. It is not a healthy or sustainable environment for technicians (and faculty) who take pride in their work and value their well-being.

There were so many times that I got in trouble based on someone else’s word. You could never depend yourself.  Management always believe the nurse. Management never tries to investigate the truth. The Nurse is always trying to find fault in the CMAs work. The nurse is always getting praises and thank you from the management/physicians like she's the only person working in that department. Its the CMAs who keeps things running smoothly! The pay is horrible for CMAs even though we kept the clinic running smooth and had so much stacked against us. You can’t voice your opinion without getting in trouble and don’t ever think about making suggestions. If you can’t solve a problem with a coworker by yourself, you’re screwed because no one in management will listen to you. God forbid your kid get sick and you have to call in an hour before work because you’ll get points for it. And lord if you send them a doctors note while you’re in the ER, there’s another set of points.  Different Doctors are pulling for your attention to help them when you already working on something then you get report for not helping!

I always highly recommend Baylor College of Medicine to many people. Not just to work but to get medical care as well. The doctors and the staff ive seen go above and beyond for their patients. Working with like minded people that enjoyed their job and enjoy doing it right will always be the type of people I want on my team. I was there to work and when I was done with my assignments I took on more assignments to help the team. The more I worked and volunteered for overtime the better I became at my job. I was hired to schedule for one department (Family Medicine) eventually I learned other departments and other doctors needs such as Neurology, Breast Care, Opthomology, Diagnostic testing, medical records. Management was supportive and helpful and had weekly team building activities. The hardest part of my job I would say would be when everyones work would get baked up and we had little time to catch up, if I had to pick something. The most enjoyable were the regular patients that would remember you and request to speak to you only.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Postdoctoral fellow 4 salaries reported	$63,250 per year
Research assistant 5 salaries reported	$45,000 per year
Senior research technician 7 salaries reported	$37,914 per year
Postdoctoral associate 6 salaries reported	$61,243 per year
Research coordinator 4 salaries reported	$52,000 per year

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