Best Places to Work for Scientists in Academia

The Scientist Survey 2009

Are you a full time scientist permanently employed in an academic, hospital, government, or research organization? The Scientist is conducting a survey of institutions that employ scientists and we would like your opinion of your place of work.

This survey is not for postdocs and others in non-permanent positions.

The results of our seventh annual survey will be published in The Scientist, November 2009 issue. All those who respond to our survey by noon EST on Friday, July 3, 2009 may enter drawing for a US $250 gift certificate from Amazon.com. (Gift certificate will be provided in equivalent local currency if winner is outside the US)

Please let your coworkers know about this survey...the more responses we receive the more valuable the results will be.

General Information

1.1.

Are you a scientist with a permanent position in an academic, hospital, government, or research organization? *

	Yes
	No

1.2.

Please indicate the country where your institution is located

Other

1.3.

Please identify your institution and its location

Please use the full official name of your institution

Institution Name:
City:
State/Province:

1.4.

Please indicate the type of institution you work in

Other

1.5.

Please indicate your gender.

	Male
	Female

1.6.

Please indicate your nationality status.

	Yes	No
I am a citizen of the country where I work
I was born in the country where I work

1.7.

What activities do you perform in your current position?

Check as many as are appropriate:

Laboratory Research	Teaching
Patient Care	Field Research
Writing (Reports, Papers)	Administration
Clinical Research	Laboratory Services
Consulting	Other

1.8.

Please indicate your single most important area of work

Other

1.9.

How many years have you been in your current position?

Institutional Assessment

Please rank your agreement or disagreement with each of the following statements on a 1 - 5 scale.
Please use the pull down menu to indicate the relevance and importance of the factor to you.

2.1.

Job Satisfaction

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
My work gives me great personal satisfaction
My research activities are valued by my colleagues
My teaching activities are valued by my students

2.2.

Peers

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
My peers are excellent scientists
There is a high level of cooperation and collegiality among my peers
My institution has an excellent reputation
Different genders and minorities are fairly represented on the faculty and staff
My institution fosters collaboration among faculty
My institution promotes networking with scientists in other institutions

2.3.

Infrastructure and Environment

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
My institution has high quality graduate and undergraduate students
My institution provides me with adequate administrative staff to run my office
My institution provides adequate core facilities
My institution has an excellent information technology infrastructure
Infrastructure and buildings are well maintained, and replaced or expanded when needed
My institution is located in a community where it is pleasant to work
My institution fosters a flexible attitude to balancing the needs of work and family

2.4.

Research Resources

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
The administration provides support and encouragement for my research activities
My institution provides an adequate research funding package for new faculty members
My institution provides access to all essential information services and journals
My institution has the resources to supply basic research infrastructure needs not covered by grants
The institution has a fund that can be used to fill in the gaps between research grants

2.5.

Pay

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
I believe the pay at my institution is fair and competitive
There are opportunities for merit increases and the criteria are clearly spelled out
My institution negotiates pay fairly
My pay and conditions of employment have not been adversely affected by the current economic downturn

2.6.

Management and Policies

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
Senior administrators provide effective leadership
My institution has effective and supportive management that responds to input from researchers
Institution administrators are accessible and listen to faculty and staff members
My institution provides adequate health care coverage for me and my family
University administration communicates and cooperates effectively with faculty and staff
Male and female employees are treated equitably.
Administrative systems for purchasing supplies and equipment are efficient and well organized

2.7.

Teaching and Mentoring

In countries where these benefits are government provided or mandated, please ignore the question

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
My institution provides adequate resources to support my teaching and mentoring duties
My institution values teaching and mentoring of students and junior researchers
The administration allows flexibility in balancing research, teaching and mentoring duties

2.8.

Tenure and Promotion

						Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
	1 (Strongly disagree)	2 (Disagree)	3 (Neutral)	4 (Agree)	5 (Strongly Agree)	Importance (Please select from pull down menu)
The tenure and promotion system at my institution is transparent and explained to faculty members and staff
The tenure and promotion system is fairly applied
The qualifications and experience of new faculty and staff members are appropriately recognized during hiring

2.9.	If there are any factors which we have omitted, and which are important to you about your institution, please list them here.

2.10.	Please add any additional comments relating to your institution here.

Contact Information

3.1.

The Scientist might like to contact you to gain further insight into your answers. If you are willing for us to contact you in strict confidence, please check the "Yes" radio button and provide your contact details.

Yes	No

3.2.

If you would like to be entered for the drawing for a US $250 Amazon.com gift certificate, please provide your contact information.
(Gift certificate will be provided in equivalent local currency if winner is outside the US)

This information will be kept strictly confidential.

Name:
Email:

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