graduate researcher

graduate assistant

assistant professor

research assistant

program coordinator

West Virginia University

My experience working in the structural lab at West Virginia University was very exciting along with a great deal of hard work. I was involved in testing press brake formed tub girders in composite an not composite testing. The girders were being tested to possible develop a new design of bridge girders that are quicker and easier to make also while being more economical then any other girder, without sacrificing strength. To complete the testing i was involved in everything from moving the girder into place, applying different strain gages to the girder to provided detailed information, wiring each gage to the equipment used to record the strain data as well as being able to use and understand the program that is recording the data, and was on site during testings of the girder. During composite testing the girder exceeded the laboratories actuator applied load which was more than impressive being that the applied load was around 330 kips. This job was a great experience in a amazing environment where I learned and observed some basics in the process of how testing and design of bridges are done. My co-workers were very supportive and allowed me to be involved in every step of the process and was available to answer any questions that I had, and easily became a part of the team.

After clocking in, we stay in our areas and wait for students who are seeking help. Sometimes, it takes hours before we get a "customer" or what we call a tutee. Whenever we do get a tutee, we make sure that we maximize the session that we have with them. For example, if the subject is Math, we go over the homework first. We ask that the tutee work a question out by himself or herself before we offer our assistance so that we can pinpoint where the issue lies and resolve it effectively. Once that has been settled, we then explain the solution process and give some suggestions on how it could be done more efficiently. If the second attempt at the problem is successful, we move on to the next one. If not, we keep at it until the tutee understands. The hardest part of the job is when the student has a weak foundation in the subject. This means that we'll have the task of re-introducing the basic concepts and strengthening that foundation. This may take some time and the student might end up not finishing the assigned work. In that case, we just set a time for a second session. The most enjoyable part of the job is helping other students accomplish their academic goals. Seeing that look of joy on their faces is enough to make up for all the work that you both put in. Working with different types of people each day has taught me how to be more empathetic. It makes us see that each person has different needs, and as a tutor, we should adjust and do our best to help them.

I would give this place ZERO stars if that was an option... It actually made sick to even click on one star.
This is just an all-around awful place to work. The people, including management, are hateful, self-serving, evil, back-stabbing haters who are miserable and will throw you under the buss any chance they get just to get a twisted thrill. They don't care about the students or their co-workers; they care about one thing.... themselves, and that's it!!!!
You cannot trust anyone!! And I mean no one! In the two years that I forced myself to go there every day, I had one friend and we were friends long before I started. The people I met who I initially thought would be good friends and great people to work with turned out to be just awful, awful people. Every good and decent person who goes to work there doesn't stay long.... once their eyes are opened to the evils of that place, they get out as quickly as they can.
Management will take your ideas and great work and make it look like it's their own so it looks like they actually did something. 
It got to the point where every work morning I got up, as soon as my feet hit the floor, I would cry at the thought of having to go there. It was an absolutely miserable place to be. And, honestly, I am NOT a weak fragile person, far from it... I have very thick skin, I worked in the field of Corrections for almost 10 years, and if you know anything about Corrections, you know how tough it can be, but compared to WVUP, it was a cake walk!
Don't even bother applying because I'm telling you, it is not worth it!

My experience with WVU is not a good one. I am the employee every employer desires, accountable, determined, motivated, and always willing to go above and beyond to get the job done.  Time and time again my efforts were overlooked or not noticed at all, and when they were, there was absolutely no incentive to continue taking the initiative. I was asked to do the same job as coworkers, but make significantly less. I have been lied to, mislead, and undermined time and time again. This is all due to a lack of supervision and competent management. I can't speak for all departments within WVU, but from my experience, the pay for most jobs is significantly lower than national averages, the opportunity for growth is limited by favoritism and popularity, and the ceiling for success is incredibly low. Employee turnover within my department is neverending, but they refuse to change the environment in any substantial way, instead choosing to keep their employees discouraged and defeated. Many times I was asked to take on significantly more than fellow employees only to be told that schedules are fair, even when they clearly were not. They have used fear tactics and hostility to keep their employees in "check," all while embracing laziness and bad work ethic. I actually enjoy the work I do, take great pride in my accomplishments, and continue to strive for success. Unfortunately, it seems they do not value these things and instead choose to ignore them. 

No discernable and standard policies and procedures for getting things done. Poor employee training to accomplish their duties. 

Employees with knowledge about how to get things done generally do not share info so as to insure job securuty. Most employees don't care about being more efficient as there is no incentive for doing so. 

Brown-nosers and Machiavellian personalities ascend-not the most talented. No accountability-especially for upper level management. Most upper level management is very good weaving a perception of success in their work without any measurable evidence to that effect. Conversely, these same people are masters at blame shifting when problems arise.

Overall a rudderless ship. To be sure, most employees are well intentioned. However, as the state's flagship institution it is very disappointing to see the low impact WVU really has in the state given the resources they are provided. Marshall appears to be more deliberate in this regard.

Depending on the school you work in, you will go years without a raise if you are classified staff. Faculty and upper administration seem to have no problem getting annual raises and promotions. I worked for 7 years and had all of two small raises and no room for promotion. When I asked my supervisor about a promotion based on my increased workload and taking on duties that were not in my job description, they just gave those tasks to someone else and said I should no longer be doing them and, therefore, didn't need a promotion. No support from supervisors in some departments, and there can be a sense of favoritism.

WVU does offer some job security, but I worked with a woman that was let go unexpectedly because the administration didn't want to have that position anymore. So it depends. Benefits are okay, not the best. Some departments allow employees to work remotely or hybrid while others don't. Mine allowed some team members to work hybrid, but expected the rest to be in the office every day, which I thought was unfair.

The systems and processes WVU uses are slow and inefficient, making the job cumbersome. IT needs a major overhaul and brought into the 21st century.

I work Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, but my time varies through the research process. I went to the lab at 8 am, open the door, read the articles I need for the day (or for the week), and start to make the chemical solutions or buffers for the experiment. And the  rest of the day I would follow the procedure, and finish the experiment. The time varies too. I have learn a lot of different kind of usage of chemical and the use of the different functions of different equipment. The management in the area is good, my boss is a friendly and hard working person. My co-workers are nice to me, they help me out a lot for my experiments. The hardest part of this job is the reactions. It is a research job, and you can't rarely predict what is going to happen. In this case, sometime i need to go to the lab at midnight to make sure the experiment is going the way i want it to. Or sometime i will have to stay in the lab for a longer hour to make sure the experiment goes well. The most enjoyable moment in the lab is that i met a lot of good people in the lab, and i make a lot of friends. I enjoy making samples.

From the first day of employment, the learning and growth opportunities have been constant and everyone works together to promote consistency and continuity in the work flow. If I wasn't moving 950 miles away, this is a place where I would elect to stay through the remainder of my career. The electronic medical record is nearly paperless, enabling Care Management staff to access the complete record on one seamless system (EPIC) which is also integrated in the Allscripts application used for for all care management activities. The modes of communication throughout the hospital are very efficient and well utilized by all staff. In addition, encouragement and praise for a job well done are never in short supply.

poor pay,  poor leadership (at some positions), lack of advancement, health insurance sucks premiums always going up. Great co workers. Even if hard worker and highly skilled you won't make what you deserve compared to what you would make in the so called real world. Great time off. However sick leave can no longer be used for health insurance when you retire. Raises sometimes dont take place for 10 years. People who retire are charged a hardship even after 30 plus years of service. Those that retired used to have names placed on a bored etc but not anymore. Former director of maintenance wasnt trusted to fix a toaster by his wife . Current maintenance director could not operate a 10 in 1 screwdriver asking if it has a flat head. If you apply at this job dont take the first offer they give you you had better value yourself high bc it will be an uphill battle to get any raises afterwards ( even worse with current pandemic actual pay cuts). 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Experiencing a vast population of patients and getting the opportunity to take care of so many people with different backgrounds. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
They NEVER have enough staffing for any season, or job. Every single member of leadership is stressed out, overly critical, and all cliquish. 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Hostile, stressful, overworked, impatient. Absolutely no opportunities for advancement. Anyone who advances is handpicked and groomed prior to the position opening and interviewing process. They will make a lot of empty promises and go back on their word. They do not support employees with ADA accommodations. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Incredibly overwhelming with the work load and the expectations. Never an opportunity to leave on time.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Graduate researcher 12 salaries reported	$26,857 per year
Graduate assistant 10 salaries reported	$17,135 per year
Assistant professor 4 salaries reported	$69,860 per year
Research assistant 4 salaries reported	$33,000 per year
Program coordinator 3 salaries reported	$20.90 per hour

Working at West Virginia University: Company Overview and Reviews

West Virginia University

West Virginia University Ratings

Popular jobs at West Virginia University

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected