Physics dept. grad student - Graduate Student Researcher UCLA Employee Review

4.0
28 Mar 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I can really only speak for the physics department (and my subfield specifically), I'm sure the experience differs for other students. UCLA physics seems to be a pretty good place to do graduate study. -The professors are top-notch researchers and I've found all the projects I've been involved in to be fairly interesting. -The other graduate students are hard-working and very smart. -The atmosphere is very academic, but also pretty laid back (I wear shorts and a t-shirt literally every day, and my hair/beard is crazy and no one has ever cared). -Lots of opportunities to network with big names in the field; professors are always arranging talks/conferences.

Cons

-Average time to PhD for theoretical physics here seems to be about 5-6 years. That's a long time, but it's also pretty average for the field, I'm told. -There is definitely a lack of women and POC in the department, but students/faculty are actively working to increase enrollment, and this is a problem in the field as a whole, not just at UCLA. -I wish I was paid some more for my TA duties, but I'm not living in poverty, so I guess I can't complain. -Be expected to work 40-60 hour weeks if you really want to get your work done (but hey, that's grad school!).

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5.0
28 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Amazing, high impact work, great collaboration

Cons

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4.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Extremely innovative environment and great collaborations within the university and beyond

Cons

Can be super fast paced and highly intense environment, but that makes work equally fun and challenging

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