graduate researcher

research assistant

graduate assistant

teaching assistant

lecturer

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Editing scientific papers was a valuable and enjoyable experience. Though it was only for college credit rather than compensation, I gained a lot from my experience as a peer editor and teaching assistant at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. During a typical day at work, the professor I was assigned to would disperse that week's writing assignment to the group of TAs, as well as the number of assignments written by the students in the class. He would then explain what his goals were in terms of the assignment and what he wanted us to focus on in our grading. Throughout the course of the semester, I reviewed and edited many students' work, and had the chance to evaluate my own work more critically because of it.

Through this working experience, I learned more about time management, having a careful eye, and respecting others' work. One of the hardest parts of the job for me was not rewriting others' work based on how I would do it myself. I learned how important it is to respect the intentions and the words of another writer and not try to alter their writing to suit my own needs. The most enjoyable part of the job was learning about the different things these young psychologically-minded people were interested in. I got information on so many things I'd never known about previously. Additionally, I really enjoyed getting to read other students' writing, as reading is one of my favorite things to do!

They lied to me in my initial job interview at UMass Amherst.  I had never been lied to in a job interview before.  It was pretty amazing.  It turned out to be typical at UMass.  It comes from the top down.  They lie to their employees, to the press, to the Town of Amherst all the time.  A really poorly run organization.  Really bad "Ole boy network".  There is a lot of theft there, mostly by people who have been promoted.  UMass makes all their employees pay for parking and they take it out of people's pay checks.  And it's "means tested", meaning: the more you make the more they take.  It takes 14 years to get to your top pay at UMass.  I've been around the block and I've never heard of something so foolish.  It made for a really bad work culture because the 14 year pay scale plus the "upgrades" that the "ole boys" get mean the older and certain selected people make $7-10/hr more than the younger and not selected people for doing the same work.  And it is NOT a meritocracy.  The better workers aren't necessarily making more money.  It's just certain selected people.  There were many times where I was working next to one of the "ole boys" and they were making over double what I was making and we're doing the exact same job.  And I'm younger and more physically capable so I'm actually doing faster and better work.  I always felt that most of the people in charge were scamming the taxpayers and on the take.  And I saw evidence of that.  They don't know what training is so don't expect any of that.  You'll just have to figure it out.  

This job can be a great job with the right Manager. The person I reported to created a veil that they supported me. I was hired during the early stages of the pandemic and remote work was the only option.

I was promised a comprehensive training plan. In reality, it was just a jumbled together, last minute, build the plane as you fly it training. Documents scattered in different locations, trainers who just wanted to dump information rather than teach it. I had very few contacts who actually wanted to take the time to teach.

In the end, this role did not work out due to the lack of management, changing of hands for the Deans and lack of focus on creating the right environment for an onboard employee. If you are not succeeding, they just move on their way with no discussion as to what is going wrong and how they can help to make it right. They dump as much as they can in as little time as possible and if you are crushed, they just stare.

Don't get me wrong, the job was great but the manager for this role was bred to be a worker and not a leader. If you are looking to take this role on and feel comfortable figuring it out yourself with as little support as possible...dig in. If not, then walk away knowing you can succeed somewhere that is willing to support you. 

This could be such a great work environment though micromanagers are deeply entrenched and bureaucracy hinders work. Really wanted to love my job, it could have been so so great sigh, though the supposedly collaborative work environment is badly managed and only seems to empower perfectionist nit pickers and mansplainers. They hire enthusiastic and talented individuals then don't allow them any autonomy to do even small aspects of their job. Many employees just remain quiet in meetings rather than subject themselves to exhausting extra hours of having topics talked to death. Many of the best employees I know here have quietly sought other work and left rather then continue to suffer through it. 

The union has been a bright light, there are many kind people to work with, and the wages and benefits have been fair. I had planned to stay here for years though the environment is stifling and supported more in verbiage than practice and I sought my exit along with most others in my particular position. 

Typical day includes answering email, supplies order, planning meetings and community events, and tracking faculty and department expenses, maybe answering a few phone calls. You'll learn microsoft excel, ferpa, phone skills, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, and a more open perspective.

The job itself might seem redundant, but the environment is so welcoming. Faculty, staff, and students are committed to empowering students, especially students who have been historically disenfranchised by educational institutions. Your coworkers know you by name and treat you as an equal. Only downside is that the department is in transition, so your duties will shift - but that also gives you a chance to learn new skills. Most welcoming, tolerant, and understanding place I have ever worked. Work may seem repetitive but faculty and staff always have something interesting to talk to you about and they are so genuine in their conversations with you.

As of in Company, learn from others, but if you know better than co-worker or your boss, do not talk, do not teach, do not try to lead. Union people will ruin your time there if you are hard working. Go with the flow and keep your mouth under "supervision". 
If you see bad things or dangerous  situations, call the City Police first but not the UMass Police. They are paid by school and for that reason, bad things can go mute and matters not solved properly.
If you call Media, you will be a target and pined and not wanted.
Be your best. Do your best for your safety, other's safety and over all: the student's safety, regardless of your next week pay  check.
When it comes to the safety, silence is the biggest sin you can commit. Be brave to stand, even alone, for the safety of lives, property and environment. 

  Any thing you say about your supervisors (to your co-worker) it will be booked and bite you later. 
Top Management is poor and bias. They hire in family line and it operates in that way.

All fundraising staff work for the UMass Foundation, not for the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Why is this important to know? The benefits offered by the Foundation are significantly fewer than those provided to University employees. University employees have fabulous benefits from onsite healthcare, to tuition remission to use of all facilities on campus. These benefits are not part of the Foundation employee benefit package. This is not explained during the interview process. I was shocked to learn that tuition remisssion was not available to me as a Foundation employee. This policy was being reviewed when I left my job. It’s possible that the policy has changed. No tuition benefits for family members. The Foundation pays competitive salaries and an annual bonus to fundraisers who meet their goals. Isenberg is the school with the wealthiest graduates which makes fundraising success possible. However, the culture of the Isenberg fundraising staff is cutthroat.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass Amherst) stands as a beacon of academic excellence in the New England region. Renowned for its diverse range of programs, it particularly shines in areas like computer science, engineering, and the natural sciences. The campus, with its blend of historic buildings and state-of-the-art facilities, provides an environment conducive to learning and innovation. Beyond academics, UMass offers a vibrant student life with numerous clubs, activities, and events that foster personal growth and community engagement. Its commitment to research is evident in the numerous projects and collaborations it undertakes, pushing boundaries and making significant contributions to various fields. The faculty is knowledgeable and approachable, often going the extra mile to assist students. Nestled in the picturesque Pioneer Valley, the university also offers a unique blend of serene landscapes and the energy of a bustling student community. UMass Amherst is undoubtedly a top choice for those seeking a holistic educational experience.

A typical day at work is flexible depending on the challenges presented locally and skills and abilities to understand and manage any crisis situation while achieving results and suggesting potential solutions, on the fly. I have learned a tremendous amount from the professor with his relaxed and well-mannered patience. The professor has a hands-off management style that is very effective in achieving organic results to benefit the entire population. The hardest part of the job is focusing on one component of the duties at a time, compiling and delivering research and generating funding to publish. The most enjoyable part of the job is to see survivors thriving on their own after having gone through terrible trauma or crisis and learning what is necessary to reverse engineer the situations they have found themselves in. 

Basic prep lists would include 50lbs of onions to be julienned, or 100lbs of potatoes to be quartered. Followed by putting together various recipes for service, putting food into service trays, and restocking line stations during service. 
Learned the processes in which large scale operations function in order to meet the demand 
As a student expect to be talked down to by some managers while others are more than happy to accommodate any issue
Student workers might not have picked up a knife before, expect many to be unmotivated and slow-paced. The non-student workers vary depending on age and experience level, but for the most part are adept in the dining common.
The hardest thing is the language barrier between staff as many workers come from a variety of countries which do not share a language
The most enjoyable part of the job is mouthing off about the students to fellow employees

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Graduate researcher 8 salaries reported	$34,736 per year
Research assistant 6 salaries reported	$40,333 per year
Graduate assistant 10 salaries reported	$33.67 per hour
Teaching assistant 5 salaries reported	$24.40 per hour
Lecturer 5 salaries reported	$62,380 per year

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