Pros
- Big company allows one to experience vast range of products and technologies - Great training in product development process - Opportunities for professional development such as six-sigma - Wonderful analytical sciences division with all the latest and greatest instrumentation (though everyone is overworked) - Researchers from other departments are willing to help even if they don't know you
Cons
- Lower than average industry salary, does not take into account the cost of living in PA w.r.t HQ in MI The following are for the Adhesive and Functional Material Business (not for broader Dow organization), - Science is almost entirely about trial and error, instead of rigorous application of scientific method. You don't need a PhD to do the kind of work most scientists do - Most projects are minor improvements type - Lack of foresight and courage to pursue innovative research and product ideas - Favoritism and politics in the group even at very low level - Deserving candidates don't get recognized or promoted - Some blatantly took credit for someone else's work - Incompetent management - my manager specifically had utterly inadequate scientific and management aptitude - Don't assign dedicated technicians to all PhDs - Management changes every two years as people hop around within the company, as a result managers don't pursue long term efforts that are necessary for a thriving research organization - Frequent restructuring usually resulting in no tangible benefit