The US institutions that made the top 10 list in The Scientist's 2004 Best Places to Work in Academia survey represent an interesting mix of small and large academic and private research centers from across the country. The characteristics that make them great places to work, however, are surprisingly similar.

Many respondents from these campuses noted support for interdisciplinary research as one of their institution's strengths. Top-ranked California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, with only 500 postdocs and 280 faculty members, promotes such collaboration. "Caltech's small size and cooperative and supportive atmosphere make interactions with colleagues easy and profitable," says William F. Tivol, manager of the cryo-electron microscopy facility. "Many places talk about interdisciplinary research, but Caltech makes it a reality. The extraordinarily high quality of the faculty and students leads to a vibrant exchange of ideas and very creative research projects," says Tivol.

Michael Hortsch, cell and developmental biologist...

Article Extras

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Report Card

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Rank

Institution

Type

No. of Full-Time Life Science Researchers*

Total Government Funding (in millions US$)

Papers Published in the Life Sciences**

Citations per Paper**


1

California Institute of Technology

Academic

431

$209.5

2,358

36.98

2

Purdue University, IN

Academic

1,380

$151.8

4,833

14.73

3

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, WA

Private

561

$207.5

1,804

36.16

4

University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Academic

791

$37.7

4,225

12.24

5

Cornell University, NY

Academic

2,100

$361.3

13,063

21.25

6

University of Delaware

Academic

475

$60.0

1,017

10.99

7

University of Michigan

Academic

2,830

$750.0

10,207

21.89

8

Fox Chase Cancer Center, PA

Private

277

$57.1

734

34.12

9

Wadsworth Center, NY

Government

335

$34.0

NA

NA

10

Indiana University

Academic

1,650

$213.4

5,390

17.72

*Includes faculty, postdocs, and graduate students **Source: ISI Essential Science Indicators

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