NDSU named among best places for postdoctoral research in U.S.
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North Dakota State University has been named one of the best places to work in 2006 for individuals pursuing postdoctoral positions in North America, according to the March 2006 issue of The Scientist.
The Scientist, a monthly publication with a circulation of more than 70,000, provides coverage of developments in life sciences, including research, technology and business.
NDSU placed in The Scientist’s top 35 research institutions in North America.
Also included in the list are National Institutes of Health, Vanderbilt University, Cornell University, Harvard Medical School, Duke University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Iowa and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. NDSU was ranked 34th.
Postdoctoral researchers are individuals who have completed their doctoral studies at a university and are working on research in their area of expertise.
Postdoctoral research appointments can vary in length and are often a path to gain additional knowledge to establish a career in scientific research.
According to The Scientist, “This year’s top-ranking research institutions … offer postdocs such important features as collaborative (and) intellectually challenging environments, quality research facilities, and flexibility in designing and conducting research projects.”
The Scientist noted NDSU’s strengths as the benefits of the facilities for postdoctorates.
NDSU is also listed among “Research Universities (high activity)” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in its new basic classifications of U.S. colleges and universities.
With a graduate school enrollment of more than 1,600, NDSU’s graduate school marked its eighth consecutive year of growth.
“ Postdocs are the future of scientific discovery, and as they consider their career opportunities, this ranking will show how NDSU offers significant professional opportunities,” President Joseph Chapman said.
“ Combine professional opportunity with our community’s standard of living and we can offer advantages to individuals that will be difficult to beat. This ranking is further evidence that NDSU’s growth as a national research university meets North Dakota’s goals of attracting and retaining people.”
Research scientist Anthony Caruso joined NDSU’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering in 2005 after completing his Ph.D. in physics and astronomy at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
He said of the four job offers he received, including several from the U.S. Department of Energy laboratories, several factors tipped the scale to choose NDSU.
“ The primary factor was the academic and scientific freedom,” Caruso said.
In addition, the family atmosphere and cost of living in Fargo factored favorably when compared to some communities in California and New Mexico that he was considering, he said.
“ Attracting highly qualified people for postdoctoral and other research positions is important to continued growth of NDSU as a research institution and to the development of the Red River Valley Research Corridor,” said Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer for NDSU. “Being named among the best 35 places to work in North America highlights the benefits we have to offer.”