graduate researcher

research assistant

assistant professor

postdoctoral associate

administrative assistant

University of Pittsburgh

Pitt is a great place to start your career and gain stability, but don't stay longer than 2 years. Pitt and UPMC have created an underclass in the city of Pittsburgh. They pay about 20K less than their corporate competitors and oversaturate every department with unnecessary staff. There is quite a bit of downtime as the research has moments of spottiness due in part to a lack of dedicated space for study subjects to be seen in, and also because the patient population is not what the Principal Investigator predicted. In clinical research, there is a culture among the PIs that involves making the research objective work for you instead of allowing the data to show that your hypothesis could not be proven. This breeds a lack of integrity on all fronts within the research community at Pitt. For example, if a PI does not like what the research is suggesting, they may modify the protocol in order to look for results that cater to the data. As long as this modification is approved by the IRB, then it simply goes unquestioned. In bench science this methodology would be nearly criminal. The clinical research at Pitt is simply not solid. And yet, these practices are acceptable because these studies are the main bread and butter for the doctor and staff salaries. If they don't show progress, then they don't get more money from the NIH, and they can't fund their salary. It's a horrible cycle of ethics failing. 


The incremental raise of 3% is laughable as is posting jobs with salary ranges that start as low as 25K and as high as 65K, or sometimes not at all. When you counter offer, the counter offer has to go up the chain to the Chancellor. These counter offers are usually rejected. And you are brought on at a salary that has no real growth potential. The reality is, the salary is based on soft money grant funding, so despite your work experience you will likely start at 40K as a mid-career research coordinator position.The range is published on the job post just to entice unsuspecting applicants.  When you consider the amount of work that goes into coordinating a study---enrolling patients, maintaining regulatory documents, and guiding the PI through every stage of a study so that they don't break protocol--their salaries are laughable compared to the starting salary of 80K that you would make for a corporate sponsor. It is quite easy to stay here and lose sight of your focus.

Again, this is a great place to start, but don't stay long or else you get stagnant. One day you look up, you're 40 something and you're only making about 10 grand more than what you made in your late 20s. That's pretty pathetic if you ask me.

Other than sitting at the desk and answering questions from students and staff or doing homework, I go around to the different buildings when asked to by supervisors. I was sent to the resident halls, the library, and classrooms to do various things. These tasks where to add printing paper, replace the tonner of the printer, and to fix the touch screen capabilities on the printing stations. On many occasions I would assist one of my supervisors on fixing a computer issue such as Pawprint, rebooting a computer, installing a new operating system, and looking through a computer’s BIAOS to understand how the computer works internally. 
	I learned many things during this internship experience, not just about computers, but personal skills as well. As far as computer skills it improved my knowledge of other operating systems such as Mac and Linux. I was able to also understand the type of questions to ask when trying to solve a person’s technical problem. I learned to be very formal, smile, and be polite with everyone in order to maintain a comfortable working environment for everyone. Most importantly, I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask as many questions as necessary because I might need the information to help another student out later. 
The skills I applied in this internship from what I learned are in my studies have help me throughout this internship, for example, my Programing classes gave me skills in computer error problem solving and patience when trying to make something work with a computer without making it freeze or break. That has helped me assist many other students with their problems without becoming frustrated and approaching issues using many different angles. My English and public speaking classes have improved my vocabulary and speaking ability. My Security and Telecommunication classes have given me the skills to recognize different types of threats to a person’s security and how data is transferred between networks. These skills assisted me throughout this internship because, I was able to know the type of questions to ask based on their computer’s recent history, processes, and changes made by the user.

People at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford such as the academic advisers and faculty members are typically very friendly and personable. At the same time, though, they are very detail-oriented and productive in their work.

My jobs there were both fun and challenging. If I could continue to work there, I absolutely would in a heartbeat. They smoothly combine research, fun, and friendly one-on-one faculty-student interaction without it becoming a stuffy or dull working atmosphere. 

Working with students was a very rewarding part of my work. I was promoting increased literacy and scholarly, critical, and analytic thinking both as a Writing Center Consultant and Academic Mentor. 

In the former position, I worked under a head supervisor (who was also director of the school's Composition Program), to whom I regularly reported the Center's progress. I did so by recording the number of students entering the Center for help on their papers (using Google Docs spreadsheets). When not preoccupied with that task, I would help students sign up and in to their Writing Center accounts so that they could schedule or change appointments, or I would help them one-on-one with papers of their own.

In the latter position, I created presentations and workshops for students to help them with their critical reading and writing abilities. I offered advise and guidance for how to survive and thrive in a college environment -- which entails, of course, college-level academic demands. I worked under a supervisor who was the head of the Freshman Seminar program as well as an Associate Professor of Anthropology. We held regular meetings by which the academic mentors reported the progress they were making with their assigned Freshman Seminar classes.

Overall, working there was a formative and enlightening experience for me. If they offered, I would certainly go back and work there on a more regular basis.

I would caution anyone reading these reviews (to help them determine applying to Pitt for a job) with a grain of salt. That is because Pitt is a massive employer with many departments, centers, sub-departments, divisions, individual research groups etc. all with unique cultures, job pay/scales, management issues, "perks," etc. 
 
Flex Schedules:
The university, as I've been here 10 years and worked for 3 different departments, does not have a standard telecommuting policy or flex schedule (i.e. 4-tens or something). Those items are up to each department, division, research group, etc you work for. Frankly, many times they are "verbally agreed upon" so you don't even get anything in writing....
Management:
Again solely based on who you work for. Can't be generalized. Just pray you don't get a faculty member as your manager.... they really shouldn't manage people. 
Pay:
Yes, the pay is not adequate many times. I've found job postings requiring a minimum of a masters degree but only offering like $35K max. Just ridiculous sometimes. Always negotiate your salary.  
It takes your boss to be an advocate for you to get a raise. If the department doesn't bring in a lot of money, they are cheap, or your boss doesn't advocate for you...then you will just get cost of living each year. If you work on research (especially in Arts&Science) ... raises are laughable. 
Benefits:
Yes, our benefits are great (as staff) but make the most out of them. Don't get your masters degree if you don't work at Pitt, yet. Kinda silly to waste all that money. If you have kids going to college soon... yes the benefit is worth it. Our retirement package is amazing. Talking to friends in the private sector, they are jealous of our retirement package.
Stability:
Yes, as Pitt is highered your job (unless you work on research) is stable. Especially compared to the volatility of the private sector. 

Conclusion: 
With any employer there is good departments, divisions, centers, etc., to work for (and bad ones). Do you research about the specific job you are apply for and that specific working group -  not just Pitt in general.

Everyday was different depending on the day and time of the year.  During football season August - December the days were very hectic.  Typing, copying, filing for the coaching staff.  Also, organizing information to be given to NFL Pro Scouts that would come in to watch both film tapes and practice.  During recruiting period I was on call 24/7 to book all travel arrangements (air, car, hotel) for coaching staff along with doing all the expense reports.  Assisted with organizing and working camps for youth, junior and senior high school students.  Worked with Copy Cat in all duplicating requirements.  Scheduled and paid officials that worked both spring and fall practices.

Different times of the year I was responsible for organizing and overseeing three main events in the football office.  Pro Day, Senior Day and a breakfast that was held for active players, their families, signees and their families.

Worked hard for management, I  had such loyalty and dedication.
Never turned anything down that I was asked by management.

With working for so many coaches and given all their work at about the same time, learned how to prioritize the importance of each job I was given.  Knowing all had to be done at the same time for their player meetings

Also, how to make everyone feel important, from the guard at the gate, NFL Head Coaches, NFL Scouts, Parents, Media, staff, players and anyone else that walked through our doors.

I can't say there was a hard part of the day.

The most enjoyable was at the end of the day I could leave knowing  I did a good job.

medical benefits could be better, costly for this companies resources, not as many benefits as expected but bus pass for transportation was excellent.
 Company does not protect it's workers. Anyone can accuse or blame for something, and they will turn their backs on you.  They even turn the tables on you and get away with slandering your integrity.  You cannot give any opinion or input about issues  you  have or you may be written up to be fired,  I wouldn't want to work for a company where someone can walk in and kill you and the company blames you and  does not back it's employee but rather so hard up to make a buck know matter how bad their employees are treated,  they are snakes, UNGODLY practices are done to it's employees.  Instead of being honest and saying you wont be the best fit for any honest reason they take the back door and give you a record to follow your career path with them so others can possibly harass you in the same manner as they did throughout their company if you're desperate enough  to still work for them in another department. UNPROFESSIONAL TRAINING is what you receive and you mine as well be in a sweat shop as far as what the company expects of you when you are not holding a Major title.  You are expecting to fill 2-3 positions having one Title and many many many task until you potential burn out. Doesn't care about employees well being to create a positive work place.  
Most people who come to be served are really in need of good customer service and meeting all kinds of people was the best aspect of this job.  Contacts too were great  that can hopefully help you  find something better

I do not suggest working for Pitt.  My managers are very unorganized and often miss or ignore my emails.  They will deny your time off, or just ignore the request so you are obligated to work.  I've even been denied having holidays off; and this is without financial compensation or comp-time.  I have been asked what my plans are over weekends and have been told I am required to be available and take calls on my personal cell phone, which the University refuses to provide or reimburse me for.  I am required to write weekly reports to submit to my manager, which he does not review.  I am also required to provide my manager with a monthly report, which he submits as his own.  I also have to keep a yearly written plan up to date, which gets reviewed 2-3 times a year with my manager, a process which takes several hour-long meetings.  If you like to have meetings, and be micromanaged beyond belief, come work at Pitt.  Some "Pros" are that it is a very relaxed environment, with a strong school spirit type of culture.  You can work your way up to having a lot of paid time off, but if you have difficulty getting it approved, that doesn't matter so much.  We do have off a lot of time off around the Christmas/New Years Holiday, but again I am required to work that time without pay.  We also get a random day off on the Friday of spring break which is nice, but which is also a day I am sometimes required to work.  You can be habitually late with your work, and your managers typically do not notice or care.  This to me is just further sign of poor management.

I worked on the behavioral health units. I completed social work contact sheets and psychosocial assessments on new patients, completed discharge paperwork with any patients being discharged that day and set up follow up appointments, notifying their family and service coordinator of discharge of discharge. For patients meeting criteria, I completed service coordination referrals, housing referrals and other such paperwork necessary to promoted stability within the community setting. I worked as an integral part of the treatment team providing my opinion to the team to help in the improvement of the patients' mental health care and treatment. I also conducted 1:1 therapeutic sessions with patients to work on specific issues such as grounding techniques, self-esteem and the like. I conducted research in the calming room with the patients who were anxious or upset  to help them de-escalate. The hardest part of my job  was dealing with psychotic patients who were unreasonable and out of control and requiring IM medication with security assistance. the most enjoyable part of my job was the honor and privilege of working with these wonderful people on a part of their journey. The workplace culture is supportive and positive. Management is hands off but there for us if we need support. I learned so much in my years at Mercy. I do not have an LCSW but I have been doing clinical work for years. My work at Mercy has afforded me the opportunity to develop and refine my clinical skills.

I served as an buy-side analyst for small and mid-cap private equity with other fourteen analysts at Pitt managing several million dollar University Fund in senior year. Our main task was to be an active investor and tried to disclose positive alpha among a variety of private stocks. I cooperated with another teammate concentrating on industrials. The hardest part for stock pitch was to get access to all public information that was useful to valuate the company so as to integrate them to come up with future expectation but it was also the most enjoyable part among the valuation process since that required me to be versatile professionals among a variety of related fields such as corporate finance, international trading, and strategic management and a comprehensive understanding of entire economics, industry and specific company as well. Also, I was in the valuation team where mentor other peers accelerating and optimizing valuation process and achieve its automation via MATLAB and VBA. In the meantime, I had to use Bloomberg to manage our stock portfolio and also finished most of my valuation and stock selection and thus I along with other four teammate presented our annual portfolio report to the department of finance as well as dean. Thus, generally speaking this one-year practicum is of huge value.

Harassment is tolerated, pay is low, they will constantly say that you will be getting a raise in a few months and dangling it in front of you, but you never receive it. Was finally given my promotion and new title after having to fight for an equity salary increase, as I was making 99% less than others per market research for five years, only for the university to then “restructure” and take away my new title a few
months later. Departments allow the higher-ups and select favorites to “work from home” with extreme flexibility in their work schedule and they never have to use their sick or vacation time since there’s no accountability when you are not on site, while requiring others to work on site and sit in a chair in the office even when all of your work is complete 40 hours a week. You are expected to be working collaboratively with people who are practically inaccessible. Supervisors are constantly being trained on all the wrong issues and try so hard to look like social justice warriors, that they have no idea about the reality in front of them day-to-day. HR might as well be a AI chat bot. Beware that University of Pittsburgh has a reputation for having good benefits, however when you actually compare the benefits to benefits at other companies, such as health insurance, it is average at best and has high premiums and high co-pays even with the highest tier health plan.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Graduate researcher 11 salaries reported	$36,164 per year
Research assistant 10 salaries reported	$15.00 per hour
Assistant professor 8 salaries reported	$88,513 per year
Postdoctoral associate 10 salaries reported	$59,326 per year
Administrative assistant 3 salaries reported	$16.33 per hour

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