I worked in the physciochem department in Cambridge Massachusetts and it was one of the most toxic environments I’ve ever experienced. There’s a clear pattern of favoritism and racial bias — white colleagues were promoted within months, while others were overlooked repeatedly regardless of performance or qualifications.
When I was approved for a secondment opportunity, my department in Cambridge refused to release me, only to ask me later to find my own replacement. After I did, they delayed interviewing the candidate until my secondment opportunity had expired — and then hired that same person into my old role.
Despite consistently meeting expectations, I received a poor performance review for reasons unrelated to my work, such as “not being in the lab enough,” even though management itself failed to provide direction or support.
This department operates with poor leadership, zero accountability, and a culture that damages mental health. If you value fairness, growth, and respect, stay away.
