The Scientist Announced Today the Results of Its 6th Annual Best Places to Work in Industry Survey

The Scientist, magazine of the life sciences, announced today the winners of its 6th annual Best Places to Work in Industry survey . This year's survey yielded responses from representatives of 207 life sciences companies worldwide . Smaller companies consistently ranked higher overall. Family-run Tec Laboratories in Albany, Oregon, took the top spot for the fourth consecutive year. Rounding out the top five ranked small companies are Inspire Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Durham, NC; Asterand in Detroit, MI; Millennium Pharmaceuticals in Cambridge, MA; and Infinity Pharmaceuticals, also of Cambridge, MA. Coming out on top in this year's large company category is the agricultural giant Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business in Johnston, IA; followed by AstraZeneca in London, UK; Genzyme in Cambridge, MA; Pfizer in New York, NY; and Schering-Plough in Kenilworth, NJ.

"We received a very strong scientist turnout in this year's survey and are pleased to present the results to our readers for a sixth consecutive year," says The Scientist's editor and publisher Richard Gallagher. "The results show that those companies who go the extra distance for employees and offer socially-progressive policies are consistently ranked the best places to work in industry." Kari Kalvelage, a research associate at Amlyn Pharmaceuticals, ranked 15th overall, agrees. "It's the extra little step that says 'we really appreciate you.'"

Respondents were asked to assess their working environment according to 44 criteria in 11 different categories, including the efficacy of internal communications, quality of the research environment, and opportunities for training and development. For the fifth consecutive year, employees at both large and small companies reported that the single most important factor is the feeling of personal satisfaction derived from the job. Scientists working at these companies feel they have the time and resources to pursue their scientific visions.

The Scientist's June issue, available in print, on newsstands and online, features detailed survey results , survey methodology and profiles of the top 30 institutions overall in addition to rankings of the top 10 large (more than 5,000 employees) and 10 small (1,000 employees or less) organizations.

Top 10 Large Companies:

1. Pioneer Hi-Bred, Johnston, IA

2. AstraZeneca, London, UK

3. Genzyme, Cambridge, MA

4. Pfizer, New York, NY

5. Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ

6. Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA

7. Organon , Roseland, NJ

8. Novartis, Basel, Switzerland

9. Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO

10. Wyeth, Madison, NJ

Top 10 Small Companies:

1. Tec Laboratories, Albany, OR

2. Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Durham, NC

3. Asterand, Detroit, MI

4. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA

5. Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA

6. Wyatt Technology, Santa Barbara, CA

7. Tengion, East Norriton, PA

8. Otsuka Maryland Medicinal Laboratories, Rockville, MD

9. Lexicon Genetics , The Woodlands, TX

10. TransForm Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA

About The Scientist:

The Scientist, the magazine of the life sciences, has informed and entertained life science professionals around the world for over 20 years. Available by subscription and on newsstands, we provide print and online coverage of the latest developments in the life sciences including trends in research, new technology, news, business and careers. We reach the leading researchers in academia and industry that are interested in maintaining a broad view of the life sciences by reading insightful articles that are current, concise, and entertaining. For more information about The Scientist, visit www.the-scientist.com .

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=769109

Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine

For more information on the results or to schedule an interview with our editors, please contact: Leslie Schultz Email Contact 215-351-1660 x3001