research assistant

researcher

graduate researcher

postdoctoral fellow

postdoctoral scholar

The University of Chicago

My job was sort of cyclical, with definite peak times of high activity and stressful situations.  For the most part, the cycle dictated the flow, which made it easy to plan for these situations and make them less stressful.  The most activity occurred on an application deadline date and a few days after, interview release dates and final decision dates.  I oversaw the application process and served as the contact person for all things application related, technical and/or material related.  As it pertains to my duties, a typical day would start by me finalizing the daily visit schedule as well as student volunteers and making sure that the appropriate materials were available.  During the interview phase, this list also included interviewees, which required cross referenced lists.  After which, I would check a departmental email account and forward to the responsible party as well as answer those that related to my duties(ongoing throughout day as well as phone messages).  This was usually followed by a mail run resulting in the uploading and attaching of any received documents that were related to applications identified as current applicants.  Once an application is deemed complete, I would electronically assign the application to a member of the admissions committee to evaluate, once evaluated, results would be entered, this process would repeat at least 2 more times(sometimes more), and holds true for all duties depending on where we are in the cycle. 

The thing I learned most, is all people are typically the same, no matter nationality, ethnicity, gender, or social upbringing.  Everyone wants to feel that they are being heard and treated with respect, which is something that I think my most recent employer got away from.  When I first started there as a temporary employee in 2003 it was a all hands on deck, all inclusive, all informed environment, temps were welcome to participate in activities and functions as if they were permanent employees, in my opinion, this environment has gradually changed, I see it as a breakdown in communications especially over the last 4-6 years, which leads me to my co-workers.

Overall my co-workers  and colleagues were great!  Over the last several years, my most recent employer has gone through several technology updates.  During this transition, unfortunately two members of my team, have passed and were not   replaced, they were people that I interacted with outside of the job and considered close friends, they mentored me during my temporary assignments and encouraged me to pursue the permanent position, needless to say I miss them.

There really wasn't a hard part to my job.  The thing I disliked the most, was everyone getting uptight, frantic or edgy on deadline dates especially final decisions (as it relates to the cycle described above) even though we go through it three times per calendar year.  But, usually after decisions were released the anxiety would subside and everything would be back to normal.

The most enjoyable part of my job was reading the applications and interacting with the student volunteers, applicants and eventually those admitted to the program.  I learned so much about many different cultures from so many unknowing teachers.

Your experience might depend on your management.  My manager was a Hyde Park pseudo-hippy UC lifer and while not the worst manager I've ever had, she did come in second.  And that probably explains the high turnover rate in the department.

To top it off, her manager was a La-La Land academic who apparently had no clue how my manager treated her direct reports.  My immmediate manager was rude, condescending, sometimes just nasty to people for no apparent reason, and expected exempt personnel to clock in like hourly workers.  No credit was given for working out-of-hours or overtime, but you sure got slammed if you walked in 5 minutes late.  Filing a complaint with HR was pointless as our HR person was useless except to forward e-blasts.

Benefits / vacation were good but again, if you have a nasty manager, getting vacation time can be painful.  I used sickdays to go on interviews rather than ask for time off.

The commute to UC on the CTA 192 bus was a royal pain - often late and crowded.  The EL isn't a good option since UC is a little bubble of academia amid several high crime rate areas.  Campus is pretty but I wouldn't want to be there alone after dark and if you drive, don't leave anything of any possible value visible in your car.  Street parking is difficult and the Chicago meter patrol seemed to write random tickets.

It is an easy place for people who can't cut it in the real work world, so that might be appealing if you're looking to skate by and have decent benefits

I do have to say most of the people with whom I worked were good people although morale was very bad.  You might find it amusing to see how many PhDs work as clerks there.



Left a great job that I was at for 5 years to work here. Salary was below market, but the health benefits were excellent and I thought the University of Chicago name could help my career. Loved the people on my team. They were very knowledgeable, and forward thinking. Using Workday as our CRM was a huge bonus, and I learned a lot of Excel features I had not been taught before. This was beneficial for me and the best part of my experience. Unfortunately my lack of excel was part of my downfall, as many excel tasks were increasingly difficult for me to catch up on.

Sadly, I didn't have a great experience with my supervisor. I felt that this person was missing work all of the time for various reasons, and felt that I wasn't being fully utilized. I had tons of prior experience that could have helped the team, but it seemed the opportunities weren't there. Stuff like this could have been resolved, but that's not why I left. 

I wasn't catching on to several of the tasks, which could have been resolved if communication was better. 

I left because I was never given any feedback on my performance until i received a performance review. My supervisor essentially unloaded everything wrong about my performance, and left me with little to say. My supervisor then went on leave, and during this time, my entire department received pay increases and a bonus that I did not receive. This included another employee who started 3 weeks after I did. No explanation was given.

I also didn't like the neighborhood, as shootings were commonly taking place nearby. Overall I needed to put myself first.

My experience at Booth was made to be an awesome experience due to the wonderful students, staff, visitors and prospective students that walked through our doors on a daily basis. I managed the Dean of Students Committee which assisted us with reading and evaluating the thousands of applications that we received throughout the year to be admitted into a very highly competitive MBA program. With us ranking number 1 that made my job very important. I always greeted every person with a smile and made sure that I learned something from them or about them. I also helped manage the Daily Campus Visit Program which we offered to prospective students so they can learn what it would be like on a daily basis when they became a student. It included a class visit, an information session and lunch. I learned that I can talk to anybody and make them comfortable. My coworkers we easy going but with all the travel sometimes they were so involved in so many other meetings it was hard to get them out in front of people who just needed a simple response from them. The hardest part of my job was needing management to approve some small tasks that I thought I could've handled at the time and just discussed with them later. The most enjoyable part of my job was meeting people from all aspects of life. Handles and managed inventory, ordered supplies for the office and made sure shipments of our materials arrived in different locations and countries for our staff who would be conducting information sessions in those places.

A typical day would include ensuring that the store as a whole was ready to open, then setting to work on daily tasks as necessitated by where my department was at in the academic calendar. It included ordering books, receiving them, and delegating other tasks to employees to ensure company compliance with Barnes & Noble College standards, while maintaining superb customer service. 

I learned how better to manage groups of people when it came to ensuring productivity was a priority, as well as better understood the inner business workings of a large corporate community as Barnes & Noble. 

The management staff I worked alongside all had amiable personalities and worked together to achieve sales goals, ensure corporate compliance and maintained integrity of the standards that the University of Chicago set on us as a retail representative. 

I'd say the hardest part of my job as Textbooks Manager was staying on top of the orders that would be sent to our competitor; ensuring that we met sales goals meant that we would also bring in those book orders to our store by visiting the competitor's website, and entering those orders into our system. This information often changed daily and with no real tracking system in place, I spent a large amount of time backtracking orders that had already been submitted. 

The most enjoyable part of my job was getting to meet and interact with the students and faculty that came through the bookstore and helping them obtain what they needed in the easiest way possible.

Benefits generally outweigh a lot of the qualms I've had about pay over the years, but it's still sometimes difficult. 

My team and managers have been very supportive over the years and I find that also outweighs the fairly noncompetitive pay structure they have here for staff. 

I am generally satisfied with my work though rarely challenged anymore. Some days are more fun than others.

Remote work flexibility is generally dependent on the type of work you do and varies by department. 

I've never worried about my job security but advancement is another story. However, I would still be reluctant to leave because I do enjoy my team and my work.

If stability is generally more important to you than the start-up/corporate grind then I'd recommend it here. 

Pros 
8% match on retirement after the first year if you give 5%, very good healthcare (they pay around 80% of your plan depending on pay level/plan choice), they have a half off tuition benefit as well (for yourself or dependents).  Work generally feels meaningful to advance the research/healthcare/education quality. 

Cons 
you will have to tough it out for meaningful raises or promotions, they don't do cost of living adjustments, If you reach the top of your pay band you will not get a raise, no promotions posted internally before they're posted externally (though generally jobs intended for internal candidates do go to internal candidates), Your experience here is dependent on your leadership and team

The Event Services Worker works in the Office of Event Services, a department within Campus and Student Life, as part of a team of Event Services Workers who provide operational support for events and meetings and the ongoing programs that occur in International House and Ida Noyes Hall. The primary goal of the Office of Event Services is to complement the academic mission of the University by providing students, faculty, staff, departments, and visitors to our facilities with high-quality spaces in which to engage in co-curricular activities that support intellectual, social, recreational, and cultural engagement. 

Under limited supervision, I performed duties related to the preparation and support of and recovery from special and scheduled events, meetings, and programs at International House and Ida Noyes Hall, as well as performing miscellaneous and general duties as described below. Performs any and all duties of lower classifications in same occupational group 

Set up for events, housekeeping for events as necessary event clean rooms put linens on tables breakdown rooms in …… assist clients with things.   Clean rooms if necessary buff mop and sweep floors…. Clean tables set up events… cleaned both buildings daily.    Made sure all rooms are locked and secure.   Cleaned carpets walls windows light chandeliers. Cleaned stairways and hallways, loaded chairs and table on rack for each event.  Assist caterers. Emptied trash for events and cleaned rooms after events.

My experience working with the University of Chicago Professional Education was a meaningful one, with both strong positives and areas that could be improved. The organization benefits from the University of Chicago’s respected name, access to talented professionals, and a mission connected to lifelong learning, professional growth, and high-quality educational programming. There were opportunities to contribute to important work, collaborate with capable colleagues, and support learners pursuing career advancement.

At the same time, my experience also included challenges around communication, internal structure, role clarity, and consistency in support. Like many growing or evolving departments, there were moments where expectations, priorities, or processes could have been clearer. Stronger transparency, better alignment across teams, and more consistent employee support would improve the overall work environment.

Overall, I appreciated the opportunity to be part of the work and gained valuable experience. I would describe it as a place with strong potential, talented people, and a meaningful mission, but also an environment where leadership, communication, and organizational follow-through can significantly shape the employee experience.

The advantage I had in becoming an employee at The University of Chicago will always be an unmovable and appreciated experience. I was astonished by the fact that I was hired for (my past position of) Accountant II, not just because of my academic and experience skills, but also because I was a resident in the Hyde Park/Chicago community.
I worked in the Comptroller’s Office for The Capital Funds, Property Management and Equipment Department. My supervisor taught me so many new and transferable skills. The training rendered by the University to assist employees in gaining or enhancing skills is endless. My expansion of knowledge in fund accounting has grown. I assisted my supervisor with financial reporting that consist of (but not limited to) a $3,000,000,000 annual budget. Efficient, effective time management accounting was a must; the staff consists of 5 people, 2 full-time and 3 part time employees. I hope anyone who has interest in the University of Chicago, for anything from education to employment, research and/or community service takes advantage of what they have to offer. It will be well-rounded and hopefully one of the best and most memorable events in their life.

There is no typical work day; anything can happen working at the University of Chicago Department of Safety & Security.  I have been an employee there for almost 10 years; provided support for several divisions in the same department.  I grew in my skills and experiences as the department grew. Although, it has been 'fluid' in the department, I have been able to sustain myself in the various  positions that I have held during the new management transition, as well as, the reorganizations and lay-offs.  The most challenging part of the job is during those periods change, it can often cause negative vibes and uncertainty in a work environment.  I have held several positions in the same department while supporting various divisions; therefore  I can also be viewed as the 'utility' person of the department.  I have gained the institutional knowledge and respect from upper management, as well as, my cohorts.  The most enjoyable part of the job is being able to provide a high level of customer service regardless of how challenging the incident &/or situation may be; knowing that the customer walked away at least satisfied.  Last, but not least, anything can happen at any given day, at any time.  It is definitely not a boring job.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Research assistant 6 salaries reported	$20.00 per hour
Researcher 8 salaries reported	$59,188 per year
Graduate researcher 7 salaries reported	$42,486 per year
Postdoctoral fellow 7 salaries reported	$65,071 per year
Postdoctoral scholar 10 salaries reported	$59,925 per year

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