I think both DAA and mariomike have valid points and the truth is in the middle. Don't expect the reserves to pay like a career. But treat it as such. You gain valuable life skills, meet people, and do things that not very many people have or will ever do. Once you are trained and fully employable, depending on your unit's tempo you may work every weekend or run setup and tear down for a 2 week EX with employment for a couple month. Or on the flip side, not at all for a month or two. The majority of people that have been on courses with me in the past have been post secondary students, with a few older gentlemen ranging anywhere from 30-50.
For comms research. They only exist in Ottawa or Kingston, so unless you live there, you cannot go reserve comms research.