National Institute for Medical Research hits international top ten list for post-docs
02 March 2011
The Medical Research Council (MRC) National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) has been ranked as one of the top ten places to carry out postdoctoral research internationally, according to a survey run by American magazine The Scientist.
UK institutions represented three of the ‘Top ten places to work internationally’ with University College London topping the list and the University of Dundee and NIMR placing seventh and eighth respectively. The Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was named the top US institution.
The Scientist, F1000’s magazine of the life sciences, invited readers who identified themselves as non-tenured life scientists working in academia, industry, or non-commercial research institutions to take part in their web-based survey. The survey received 2,881 responses. Respondents were asked to assess their work environment and experience by indicating their level of agreement with 38 criteria in 9 different areas. The results were collated and compiled to show rankings for the best US and international institutes. The full article with detailed survey results can be found online or in the March print issue of the magazine.
Director of the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, Dr Jim Smith, welcomes the news:
“The postdoctoral period is an incredibly important time in a scientist’s career. We believe it’s a great opportunity to nurture the next generation of scientific leaders. Support, guidance, independence and trust are essential to providing the best environment for scientists in the earliest stages of their career. This is both NIMR’s philosophy and the philosophy that will be intrinsic to UKCMRI in the future.”
Dr Harriet Groom, a postdoctoral researcher in the Division of Virology at the NIMR, says:
“The high standard and availability of equipment at NIMR is especially attractive. Most importantly I have found that being surrounded by enthusiastic, helpful scientists makes working here very enjoyable and the opportunity to foster collaborations is always there. It is great to always have an expert down the corridor and sometimes to be that expert!”
