Working in research at DUHS certainly keeps you on your toes - Clinical Trials Assistant II Duke Health Employee Review

4.0
23 Apr 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits if you know how to find and take advantage of them. Great job security; even if your PI runs out of funding, they will work hard to keep you in a similar position in a different lab.

Cons

Pay. Pay pay pay. I have verified this across four years, two different positions, and through friends in HR: the salary you negotiate when you first start working here determines your salary range throughout your career unless you're very aggressive about seeking promotions. I was a data tech II for three years and then got what is technically a promotion to clinical trials assistant II at a different lab, and due to "funding constraints" (i.e., PIs never want to spend their grant money on fair salaries and the department takes their cues from the PI) all they did was meet what I was making at the previous position. I regret not pushing back on that, but when a PI says they don't want to pay you more, and the DUHS HR metrics are skewed to be as conservative as possible, there's not much anyone wants to do about it. Raises outside of promotions are very rare (outside of the oh-so-generous <2% cost of living raise each year.) And promotions are quite difficult to finagle unless you earn a new degree/certification. Getting acknowledgement for experience or a job well done does not happen on its own here. So my advice: go as high as you possibly can when you first get hired!

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5.0
16 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Scheduling is quite flexible working 3 12s

Cons

Holiday pay is only for major holidays not Christmas Eve

1.0
23 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The work is meaningful and the team consists of some highly skilled professionals who are dedicated to supporting patients, providers, and the organization. The role provides exposure to complex issues and opportunities for professional growth.

Cons

The department suffers from significant leadership and culture challenges. Employees are hired as experienced professionals but are given little autonomy to perform the work they were hired to do. Leadership frequently inserts itself into routine matters, creating unnecessary delays and fostering a culture of micromanagement rather than trust. Communication is inconsistent and often lacks accountability. Important decisions and changes are frequently communicated verbally without written follow-up, creating confusion and shifting expectations. Employees are expected to remember evolving guidance, identify leadership mistakes, and compensate for communication failures. There is a noticeable gap between leadership messaging and employee experience. Work-life balance, employee engagement, and professional respect are regularly discussed, but many employees do not experience those values in practice. Concerns raised by employees do not appear to result in meaningful change, contributing to low morale and diminished trust in leadership. Leadership often responds to issues by implementing department-wide restrictions rather than addressing the specific individuals or situations involved. As a result, high-performing employees are subjected to increasing oversight and reduced autonomy because leadership is unwilling to address performance concerns directly. Turnover, employee dissatisfaction, and leadership credibility have been ongoing concerns. The department would benefit from leaders who are willing to listen, communicate transparently, accept accountability, and trust the expertise of the professionals they supervise.

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