KANSAS CITY, MO—For the second year running, The Scientist magazine placed the Stowers Institute for Medical Research among the top three “Best Places to Work in Academia.”

In the magazine’s 10th and final annual survey, Stowers scientists cited the institute’s infrastructure and environment as well as the research resources available to them as the key factors that give the Stowers the “core strength” that lifted the institute into the #3 spot.

Providing a first-rate scientific infrastructure ranks high on the institute’s list of priorities and as result about a third of its scientific budget is earmarked for technology centers and core facility.

“Our funding structure gives us the flexibility to invest heavily into new technologies but also to come up with organizational innovations to provide the kind of expertise that allows Stowers scientists to dream big,” said Scientific Director Robb Krumlauf, Ph.D. “We are very pleased that our consistent ranking as great place to work for scientists supports our emphasis on providing the best possible resources for talented people to flourish.”

In addition, research advisors, highly trained specialists who act as internal consultants on projects that break new technological ground, are an integral part of the Stowers’ famously collaborative atmosphere.

“What's unique about Stowers is that we are committed to providing the expertise to apply technology in novel ways,” says Jay Unruh, Ph.D., a research advisor who specializes in molecular imaging. “This has repeatedly proven to be a critical step in helping our investigators unravel the mysteries of complex biological phenomena.”

The rankings were based on surveys that gathered 1249 responses from scientists across the country. Participants were asked to rate their institutions on 37 criteria in eight categories: job satisfaction, peers, infrastructure and environment, resources, compensation, management and policies, teaching and mentoring, and tenure and promotion.

The full survey results and methodology are detailed in the article “Best Places to Work in Academia, 2013,” appearing in The Scientist’s August issue and online at http://www.the-scientist.com/.

About the Stowers Institute for Medical Research

The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is a non-profit, basic biomedical research organization dedicated to improving human health by studying the fundamental processes of life. Jim Stowers, founder of American Century Investments, and his wife Virginia opened the Institute in 2000. Since then, the Institute has spent over 900 million dollars in pursuit of its mission.

Currently the Institute is home to over 550 researchers and support personnel; over 20 independent research programs; and more than a dozen technology development and core facilities.