The Best Places to Work in Academia, 2004

There are more work-related factors that unite scientists than divide them, according to The Scientist's 2004 survey on the Best Places to Work in Academia. Across the world, scientists are surprisingly uniform in their needs. Adequate laboratory and research facilities for themselves and their coworkers topped the list in just about every country. A desire for good working relationships with peers also holds a high place in the ranking.

Institutions that ranked favorably in this year's survey scored high points in those areas, including the University of Dundee in Scotland, which ranked third in the non-US category. "On the whole, the University of Dundee and particularly the Wellcome Trust Biocenter is a great place to work," says Inke Nathke, a lecturer and Cancer Research UK senior research fellow at the university. "The infrastructure is extremely good, and communication between researchers at all levels is good."

Scientists also agree on what ...