Postdocs Value Family Over Funding

Results from The Scientist’s annual “Best Places to Work: Postdocs” survey suggest that postdoctoral researchers favor family over funding accessibility when it comes to considering potential research institutions. According to survey respondents, the Trudeau Institute in Saranac Lake, N.Y., is the number one place for postdoctoral training. It was ranked number one ― though it didn’t rank in the top 40 in 2009 ― based on its potential for networking opportunities and since it values family and personal life. The second and third slots are occupied by the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation in Ardmore, Okla., and the Whitehead Institute. “Family and Personal Life” appeared consistently on the list of strengths for the top 40, beating out even “Value of the Postdoc Experience.”