University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"Working in Boulder is a challenge"

"There are turf wars around every corner in this organization."

What do you like about working at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research?

"UCAR is at the American center of climate science. There are a lot of programs going back a long way."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Great benefits. No advancement for non-scientists. Salaries are 1/3 lower than peers for non-scientists. Mostly soft money, and increasingly so- which is the reason for the lack of advancement opportunities. This leaves only long term employees in management or senior positions fighting over a shrinking pie of dollars and resources. Qualified younger professionals (<40) will generally find work elsewhere in the same area."

What don't you like about working at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research?

"Tenure-like older employees who feel constantly threatened by younger, more productive employees. The place is filled with turf."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Other NSF organizations are rapidly using more creative approaches to erode UCAR's reputation as the place to throw money at. They have lower overhead, attract more new scientists, and are developing into more relevant institutions for American science."

"It was the best job I've had"

What do you like about working at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research?

"the challenge and the technologyand the people, plus I almost got to Antarctica"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"be sure your debts are low and your lifestyle on the downloiw"

What don't you like about working at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research?

"the Pay... it's funded by the NSF, therefore not great money"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"pay better, retain more key personnel, find a way to sell the WRF software to support continued retention"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"There is no real tenure system even if management will mention there is one.I've seen countless tenured scientists be given a hint that they should look for work and some outright fired with no other reasons than budget problems.The tenure trick is only there for you to accept a lower salary for your qualifications.Compare to DOE labs (without tenure systems) and the salaries are 50% bigger."

What don't you like about working at University Corporation for Atmospheric Research?

"Management is inept. In order to build a new team, outside funding is required(or you need to be best friend with top management or a senior scientist)."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Group managers should not be permanent positions.UCAR wants to copy academia then let the management positions be on a finite-term basis."