KU in top 10 in nation for best places for postdocs to work

Doctoral graduates who come to KU to conduct research before launching their academic careers are discovering what KU alumni already know: This is a great place.

The Scientist, a life-sciences trade magazine published in Philadelphia, ranked KU 10 th in the nation for best places for postdoctoral researchers, or “postdocs,” to work.

KU was the only university in the Big 12 Conference to make the list.

Postdocs are individuals who have earned their doctoral degrees and who have come to the University to conduct research in their field of expertise. Research is performed under the mentorship of a permanent faculty member, and postdoctoral research is considered the first step toward obtaining a faculty position at research universities like KU. There are 131 postdocs at KU.

More than 3,500 postdocs who responded to The Scientist survey rated a valuable training experience, access to research equipment and library resources, and a good mentoring relationship as the ingredients that make for a great workplace. Postdocs from 122 U.S.-based academic and private institutions and 66 foreign institutions were represented in the survey.

Postdoc Numukunda Darboe researches protein structure and function under Russ Middaugh, distinguished professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, and Bill Picking, associate professor of molecular biosciences. “I came to KU to work under Russ Middaugh, and it has been a good experience,” Darboe said. “My colleagues are very cooperative and nurturing.”