Vantaggi
-Friendly work environment -Great teamwork -Access many exoerimental facilities in-house. -Critical work can be outsourced to in-house experts, so you can do what you are best at (also expect some in return). -Safety first priority, followed by quick implementation (once safety issues are addressed). -New ideas are always welcomed. -Great work-life balance. -As long as one learns how to cut through bureaucratic channels it is good (but it may take some time, and some never learn). -Keeping a good relationship at all levels is highly encouraged and is this is a good learning experience for that. -Great place for exploring the outdoors and sports activities. Several sports clubs around. It is in the Appalachian Mountains. -West Knoxville offers an excellent selection of housing, lifestyle and shops, and a fair selection of restaurants and schools.
Svantaggi
-Safety issues may be long-drawn, sometimes excessive, expensive and inefficient. -May be too laid back (especially after getting used to Chicago lifestyle). -Quick, efficient decision making is compromised with bureaucracy. -Access to some of the experimental instruments needs lengthy paperwork (even though the instrument is not busy. -Some dead-wood is present. -The in-house contractors and trade-unions always over-charge their time, (and if you decide not to over-pay, they will be slow, and force you to overpay for their time). -A lot of freedom to work on own stuff and pace (which can be good and bad at same time). -Knoxville is not the best city for city-life lovers. -A few good private schools are present, but this is not the best school district in the US.