research assistant

graduate researcher

graduate assistant

student assistant

postdoctoral fellow

Wayne State University

After class I would walk into work, clock-in, get in front of the computer and login to the phones and my banner/oracle database. As soon as the phone rang, we answer it right away and work with the computer to gather information for any prospective students or current students. We would answer undergraduate and graduate admissions questions. We would fulfill acceptance or denial letters and send them out to the post office. 

I have learned how to multi-task using the computers, phones, and faxes. I have learned the locations being a tour-guide for WSU. I have learned how to respond to emails of prospective students all over the world. I have also learned to work with other departments in the admissions office. I have also learned how to train new student employees. 

Management was very organized. Our  supervisor was hard working person, who also made sure she was on top of everything she did. She made sure we had the right tools so that we can do our jobs more efficiently. It was easy to communicate with here during work hours, even if she was real busy with her own duties. 

My co-workers and I got along well. We were all on the same boat; working  our ways through college. Some of us did the same things during the day, and some did more extensive duties that required more finesse and computer skills. Some have mentioned that I was trainable and motivated to work on campus. 

The hardest part of the job would be dealing with the parents of the prospective students, especially if that prospective student received a denial letter from our admissions office.  The most enjoyable part of my job was being outside during the spring-summer sessions doing the undergraduate tours for incoming freshman, giving the jest of what to expect when they first step on campus as a first time college student.

This is a very atypical job in that there are not standard hours that you work, outside of on call shifts that last for 12 hours and occur at different frequencies depending on the building you work in and scheduled weekly staff meetings. Outside of these responsibilities and emergency situations, the rest of the work is mostly left up to you to decide when to complete it, as long as it is done before the corresponding deadline. 
Living in the same building as your supervisor and coworkers creates a very close knit work dynamic, which is great. We always had each others' backs when anybody needed extra help due to personal life difficulties. This bonding and support was the best part of the job to me. 
The hardest part of the job is probably time management because certain job assignments may be given last minute or building emergencies, such as a fire or flood, could occur and you'd be expected to complete the assignment or help with the emergency unless you are absolutely unable to do so. 
The most annoying part of the job is that it was recently changed so RAs are no longer to work elsewhere on campus while holding the RA position. We used to be able to work up to 15 hrs./week at other on-campus jobs, but now that source of income is gone. Also, because the RAs are compensated for their position by having their housing and a somewhat useless meal plan (many RAs don't use their meal plan and would prefer a stipend instead) paid for, this position does not provide an actual source of income.

Work at Wayne State University (WSU) would start at 8:30AM where all the researchers involving students, post-doctoral fellows and research scientists would begin their daily dose of innovation.
Apart from all the research skills I obtained in my laboratory at WSU, working there was fun-filled and also very social. Every one would gather during lunch time which was approximately between 1PM-2PM. Discussions ranging from future career options for students to research routes and solutions for post-doctoral fellows would be part of our lunch discussions. Amongst all this, we would still have personal life discussions which would make us feel like a close-knit group of friends rather than employees. This was the most enjoyable part of the job.
Every Wednesday, we had a seminar speaker and every one would gather to listen from 4PM to 5:30PM followed by questions to the speaker. The speakers were professionals from academia and industry. This gave me an opportunity to understand concepts way beyond my field of expertise.
The hardest part of the job was the late night collection of biological samples which after a while seemed very comfortable as I realized that hard work and results are the key factors to progressing in research.
All in all, I had a great experience with WSU and its work environment.

Wayne State University School of Medicine currently has major staffing shortages in most departments, which means that many departments have little-to-no supervision and employees are being asked to do the work of two-to-three people for no extra pay. These issues have persisted for many years, which has affected employee morale in a negative way.

Pay increases are automatic, so there is very little incentive for employees to work hard, which also affects morale in a negative way.  Whether you are an exceptional employee or an average employee, the increase is the same. 

Advancement is also very limited. There aren't very many good jobs at the School of Medicine and when they come open there's a lot competition for them.  Many employees decide the leave the School of Medicine when they're looking for a chance to move up.

The best part about working at Wayne State University School of Medicine, if you are a full-time employee, are the benefits.  You get health and dental insurance, paid sick days, paid holidays, and a lot of vacation time.  The typical work week is also 37.5 hours and you won't be required to work from home much, if at all, unless you are a supervisor.  

Layoffs are also very rare, so having a secure job, even if there are a lot of drawbacks, is also a good thing.  

If you're desperately in need of a job, you should apply for a position here.  If you aren't, you should keep looking.

My work as a researcher entails making and setting up the research appointments, running the research study accurately and effectively, and engaging with the participants in a professional and comprehensive manner making sure they are clear on what is being done, what they need to do, and the purpose of the research. 
I have learned and confirmed to myself that working with people, for the good of people, is my true passion. I have also learned the processes of research, all that is required, all that needs to be considered, and all that needs to be taken care of before, during, and after research is conducted, and how to engage with participants. 
I conduct the research study and appointments solo, with the guidance of the principle investigator of the research study (a professor at the university). Being the only person conducting the research is probably the hardest part of the job but it is not hard to handle; it is only hard in the sense that I am excited to conclude the study and put all of the data together but I can not get it done as quickly as I would like alone. The most enjoyable part of the job would really be almost everything: making appointments, working with the participants on their appointment day, making copies and taking care of the paper work that I am responsible for, keeping the professor updated on the status of the research... honestly, I just enjoy it all.

The Wayne State University Pathologists' Assistant program is a great program!  During the first year we take courses preparing us for a career in a pathology lab and getting more familiar with the anatomy that we will need to be familiar with as a Pathologists' Assistant.

The second year consists of our clinical rotations, along with our regularly scheduled quizzes and exams from Robbin's and Cotran book of pathology .  We primarily focus on grossing surgical specimens in a variety of laboratory settings, and with a variety of specimens, but also have rotations where we learn photographing and editing photos of surgical specimens, histology (including embedding and cutting specimens on the microtome and cryostat), and a two month rotation at the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office where we perform 25 forensic autopsies.

We are also required to perform 10 clinical autopsies while rotating through each site.

During our clinical year we train using Citrix and CoPath as well as the Dragon dictation system and pedal-style dictaphones.

This program has prepared me to begin my career with confidence in knowing how to approach any type of surgical specimen.  It has also given me the opportunity to work with a variety of pathologists, allowing me to find my comfort zone with dictating and forcing me to be flexible when needed. 

A typical day at work was data entry, filing and telephone assistance as needed to the staff that worked in the field, request for reports, paperwork and supplies were given weekly.  I learned to work with about 30 employees as I was needed.  Management was fair and were hard workers too, they did not just give orders.  My co-workers were different each person in his/her own way, I was a help to them as they requested assistance while working out in the field and when they came into the office on a monthly basis.  The hardest part of the job was when I had to do the work which took two people to do, after my fellow side by side co-worker quit to move on to another company to take on another position.  I was responsible for her work and what I was previously responsible for (I handled it, one day at a time).  The most enjoyable part of the job was the respect that my co-workers had for me, they appreciated my efforts (and expressed how much I was going to be missed when I quit my former job to relocate from Michigan to Mobile, Alabama for a life changing experience/desire).

I worked as a coordinator for the recent service project, and it was the most unprofessional display I've ever witnessed. Most of the higher ups showed up to the project hours late, they did nothing to help out, and reaped the accolades of the individuals whom showed up early by taking pictures for the media, eating lunch and then leaving afterwards. The same goes for the office culture. My team members were not showing up most of the time, they were terrible with communication, and the sense of self entitlement amoung some of the employees is baffling. When you have fundamental issues such as people not showing up to work and then levying a larger work load on you, this creates an unwelcoming atmosphere to the organization. There were heavy implications of unfair treatment of non student volunteers. They felt like as if you didn't have a car and you weren't in work study you were useless to the organization, and refused to compensate you for gas if couldn't properly document it. They made public service seem as if it was a huge joke, just a check to collect at the end of the week.

Sometimes work at the Center for Urban studies seems frivolous on the surface, but as projects advance and you see your contributions on a larger scale, you realize just how important each step of the process is. The work we do is for the welfare of those who in all areas of Detroit, not just closest to Wayne State's campus.

The work environment is light because most associates at the center are like-minded and around the same age. However, there are so many employees that it is very unlikely you'll meet them all no matter how long you've been an employee with the company. 

The hardest part of the job, sometimes, is focusing on your work because it can get mundane at times. But remembering that your contribution has a larger purpose always pulls you in and allows you to do your best work.

Management is also very helpful and encouraging. They motivate all to do their best work for the Center and for themselves. It is clear that management wants Center employees to excel in all areas of life, not just those that directly benefit the work done at the Center.

Being a Desk Assistant is pretty straightforward. You're expected to run the day-to-day operations at the desk and assist the residents with their concerns. The job pays $12 an hour and the shifts are typically four hours long. During the slower times, you'll be able to work on schoolwork or chat with friends, which is a big plus. It's a 24/7 desk, so you can select any combination of hours you'd prefer to work with little restriction. However, you will be expected to work outside of your preferred hours. Expect overnight shifts no matter what. There is no consistency in your schedule, as the hours you work typically change each week. The worse part of the job, in my opinion, is that you can not leave the desk unattended unless it is an absolute emergency. If your replacement doesn't show up on time, you must wait until someone can cover for them before leaving the desk. This can disrupt any plans you had after work, and is particularly aggravating when you're working overnight. If you need to use the restroom, you have to find someone to watch the desk for you, which again, is especially hard to do during overnight shifts.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Research assistant 8 salaries reported	$45,000 per year
Graduate researcher 8 salaries reported	$28,063 per year
Graduate assistant 8 salaries reported	$22,300 per year
Student assistant 6 salaries reported	$16.00 per hour
Postdoctoral fellow 7 salaries reported	$53,857 per year

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