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2011 Results Announced: Best Places to Work in Academia

The Scientist, magazine of the life sciences, announced today the winners of its 9th annual Best Places to Work in Academia survey. Readers ranked The J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, California, as the top institution in the United States and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, as the top international academic institution.

The J. David Gladstone Institutes has been ranked among the Top US Institutions for six consecutive years and earned top honors with the 1st place ranking this year. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, maintained their 2nd place ranking from 2010 and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, rounded out the top 3 US Institutions for 2011.

The Weizmann Institute of Science broke into the top 10 International rankings in 2010 and sky-rocketed to 1st place this year. INRA in Versailles, France, ranked 2nd place, and University of Queensland based in Brisbane, Australia, earned 3rd place accolades. Both institutions have been awarded top 10 International honors in the past, but saw improvements this year's standings.

A productive research environment and a fun, casual atmosphere is a commonly cited plus of the top institutions, both small and large across the globe. The University of Dundee in Scotland, ranked 6th among international institutions this year, creates an atmosphere that is as playful as it is rigorous. "We're a high-powered research environment in a low pressure living environment," says Dean of Research Mike Ferguson from the University of Dundee.

Both the University of Dundee and the #1-ranked US institution, the J. David Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, have built their laboratories with an open plan that they say cross-fertilizes their science. Gladstone researchers also take advantage of the expertise at major institutions in close proximity to their campus.

"Collaboration was a recurring theme among this year's top-ranked institutions," said The Scientist editor Jef Akst. "It's clear that scientists value the accessibility of fruitful partnerships to enhance their research."

The Top 15 US Institutions:

1. The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA
2. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
3. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
4. Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA
5. Children's Hospital Boston, MA
6. Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, and Glendale, AZ
7. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK
8. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO
9. Princeton University, NJ
10. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK
11. Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA
12. Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
13. The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
14. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK
15. Georgetown University, Washington, DC

The Top 10 International Institutions:

1. Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
2. INRA, Versailles, France
3. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
4. Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
5. University of Groningen, Netherlands
6. University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
7. Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
8. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
9. University of St. Andrews, Scotland, UK
10. University of Liverpool, England

The full article with detailed survey results can be found in the July 2011 issue of The Scientist and is available online at www.the-scientist.com/bptw.

About The Scientist:
The Scientist, the award-winning magazine of the life sciences, has informed and entertained life science professionals around the world for the past 25 years. We provide innovative print and online coverage of the latest developments in the life sciences including trends in research, new technology, news, business and careers. For more information, visit www.the-scientist.com.