Michigan State University once again this year placed in the top half of the top-40 “Best Places to Work 2009: Academia” rankings for United States institutions published by The Scientist magazine.

The showing, although down from last year’s fourth place on the science trade publication’s list, still places MSU just above the University of Michigan and on top of all other Big Ten universities. This year MSU is about where it sat in the rankings in 2007.

MSU was ranked most highly for its strengths in the general job satisfaction and tenure and promotion categories, while its biggest deficiencies came in research resources and in infrastructure and environment. U-M’s strengths, in contrast, were in the peer and infrastructure and environment categories, and weaknesses were tenure/promotion and pay.

Top-ranked Princeton University moved up from last year’s No. 2 slot with strengths in the peer and teaching/mentoring categories, while job satisfaction and pay were chalked up as top institutional weaknesses.

The rankings were tabulated from a Web-based survey between May 5 and July 3 and votes solicited via e-mail invitations to readers and Web site registrants identifying themselves as life scientists, the magazine reported. Some 2,350 “useable and qualified responses” from participants assessed their working environment according to 38 criteria in eight different areas.

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