Vanderbilt University is ranked in the Top 10 best places to work in academia in the United States in the November issue of The Scientist magazine.
Based on survey responses last summer from 2,313 scientists in tenured or tenure-track positions in academia or other non-commercial research institutions, Vanderbilt ranked No. 9.
Survey respondents were asked to assess their working environments by evaluating 41 criteria in eight areas. A total of 73 institutions were represented.
Categories included the quality of mentoring, infrastructure and environment, pay, research resources and tenure. The most important factor in a strong work environment cited in this year’s survey was the relationship with coworkers and mentors.
Vanderbilt’s infrastructure, supportive environment and peers were cited as particular strengths.
“This ranking system places great value on many of the same qualities that have been supported and encouraged for many years at Vanderbilt University,” said Richard McCarty, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. “Our favorable ranking is a tribute to the leadership of our deans in university central and the medical center and the dedication of our department chairs and senior faculty.”
The Top 15 list is below:
1. J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, Calif.
2. Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.
3. Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
4. Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
5. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala.
6. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Mo.
7. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
8. Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Okla.
9. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
10. University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.
11. Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pa.
12. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
13. Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, Calif.
14. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.
15. Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, Wash.
The Scientist, a magazine covering the life sciences, provides print and online coverage of the latest developments in the life sciences including trends in research, new technology, business and careers. Full results of the Best Places to Work in Academia 2008 survey and methodology are available online at www.the-scientist.com/bptw.
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu