1. The NRC Study and Neuroscience

2. Report and Excel Worksheet
Available at
To get data and rankings:
Choose a broad field (Biological Sciences). Then choose “Neuroscience and Neurobiology”
Can filter on institutions, rankings and variables of interest.
To see how a ranking was calculated, click on the ranking of interest.

3. Comparing Programs Ranges of rankings for two measures (R and S)
Ranges of rankings for dimensional measures
Research Activity
Student support and outcomes
Diversity of the academic environment
Values of the individual measures (more than 20 characteristics)

5. Publications per Allocated Faculty V1 2.486 1.333 -0.013 -0.018
Institution Name:
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA--.05R
Program:
Biomedical Graduate Studies-Neuroscience
Program ID:
(Col 1)
(Col 2)
(Col 3)
(Col 4)
(Col 5)
(Col 6)
Standardized
Program
Program Value
Regression
Product of
Description
Variable
Value*
with Variation†
Coefficient‡
Col 4 X Col 5
Publications per Allocated Faculty V1
2.486
1.333
-0.013
-0.018
Cites per Publication V2
4.629
0.475
0.131
0.062
Percent Faculty with Grants V3
92.22%
2.418
0.023
0.055
Percent Faculty Interdisciplinary V4
2.25%
-0.849
0.048
-0.040
Percent Non-Asian Minority Faculty V5
5.88%
0.891
0.022
0.019
Percent Female Faculty V6
23.26%
-0.433
-0.017
0.007
Awards per Allocated Faculty V7
0.704
-0.035
0.094
-0.003
Average GRE V8
758
1.149
0.085
0.098
Percent 1st yr. Students with Full Support V9
100.00%
-0.216
-0.019
0.004
Percent 1st yr. Students with External Funding
V10
63.64%
1.049
0.032
0.034
Percent Non-Asian Minority Students
V11
9.62%
-0.262
0.015
-0.004
Percent Female Students
V12
45.08%
0.134
0.024
0.003
Percent International Students
V13
13.12%
-0.638
-0.086
Average PhDs 2002 to 2006
V14
11.6
2.078
0.161
0.335
Percent Completing within 6 Years
V15
37.00%
-0.376
0.045
Time to Degree Full and Part Time
V16
6.50
1.906
0.037
0.071
Percent Students in Academic Positions
V17
30.77%
0.115
-0.065
-0.007
Student Work Space
V18 -1
-1.000
-0.002
0.002
Health Insurance
V19 1
1.000
0.040
Number of Student Activities Offered
V20 18
1.299
0.041
0.053
Program Ranking: 8
of 94 programs

6. Institution Name:
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA-.05S
Program:
Biomedical Graduate Studies-Neuroscience
Program ID:
(Col 1)
(Col 2)
(Col 3)
(Col 4)
(Col 5)
(Col 6)
Standardized
Program
Program Value
Survey-Based
Product of
Description
Variable
Value*
with Variation†
Coefficient‡
Col 4 X Col 5
Publications per Allocated Faculty V1
2.486
1.481
0.118
0.175
Cites per Publication V2
4.629
0.405
0.105
0.042
Percent Faculty with Grants V3
92.22%
1.382
0.168
0.233
Percent Faculty Interdisciplinary V4
2.25%
-0.898
0.049
-0.044
Percent Non-Asian Minority Faculty V5
5.88%
1.052
0.009
Percent Female Faculty V6
23.26%
-0.334
0.017
-0.006
Awards per Allocated Faculty V7
0.704
0.035
0.062
0.002
Average GRE V8
758
1.177
0.078
0.092
Percent 1st yr. Students with Full Support V9
100.00%
0.748
0.057
0.043
Percent 1st yr. Students with External Funding
V10
63.64%
1.162
0.040
0.046
Percent Non-Asian Minority Students
V11
9.62%
-0.064
0.022
-0.001
Percent Female Students
V12
45.08%
-0.601
0.023
-0.014
Percent International Students
V13
13.12%
-0.581
0.007
-0.004
Average PhDs 2002 to 2006
V14
11.6
2.539
0.019
Percent Completing within 6 Years
V15
37.00%
-0.108
0.065
-0.007
Time to Degree Full and Part Time
V16
6.50
1.290
-0.033
-0.042
Percent Students in Academic Positions
V17
30.77%
-0.230
0.084
-0.019
Student Work Space
V18 -1
-1.000
0.004
Health Insurance
V19 1
1.000
0.006
Number of Student Activities Offered
V20 18
-0.976
-0.034
Program Ranking: 9
of 94 programs

8. Student Survey Results for Selected Neuroscience Programs

9. Number of Student Responses (complete)
Institution
University of Massachusetts at Worcester
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
Yale University
Number of Student Responses (complete) 32 70 27 19 11 22
Response Rate (%)
80.0
85.4
93.1
82.6
100.0
75.9
Time to Degree
Expected Time to Degree (average)
5.4
5.7
5.5
5.2
6.0
Program-reported Time to Degree (full and part time students)
6.5
5.8
5.0
Difference in TTD (student vs program)
-1.1
-0.8
-0.3
-0.6
0.2
0.5
Master's Degree
MA in field
15.6%
1.4%
14.8%
10.5%
0.0%
9.1%
MA in another field
31.3%
8.6%
18.5%
15.8%
18.2%
Graduate Student Research
% who have made research presentations on campus
87.5%
85.7%
100.0%
84.2%
95.5%
% who have made research presentations at meetings (regional, national, or international meetings)
40.6%
90.0%
96.3%
90.9%
% who have had travel funds to present at meetings
34.4%
88.6%
85.2%
73.7%
54.5%
81.8%
Publications Before Grad Study
Refereed articles
28.1%
55.7%
66.7%
31.6%
63.6%

10. Institution
University of Massachusetts at Worcester
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
Yale University
Financial Support
% Full financial support
75.0%
81.4%
85.2%
89.5%
90.9%
86.4%
National Fellowship/Scholarship
9.4%
35.7%
59.3%
31.6%
18.2%
54.5%
Institutional Fellowship/stipend
59.4%
84.3%
70.4%
78.9%
59.1%
Traineeship
0.0%
41.4%
3.7%
22.7%
Teaching assistantship
6.3%
4.3%
11.1%
Research assistantship
34.4%
10.0%
48.1%
15.8%
27.3%
13.6%
Foreign support
3.1%
7.1%
21.1%
9.1%
4.5%
Career Goals and Development
Primary Career Goal on entry
Research and Development
84.4%
81.5%
72.7%
Teaching
14.8%
10.5%
Management/Administration
Primary career goal at this time
60.0%
63.0%
68.4%
45.5%
77.3%
12.9%
5.3%
2.9%
Career goals Supported by advisor?
Yes
87.1%
77.8%
81.8%
No or uncertain
21.9%
22.2%

11. Institution
University of Massachusetts at Worcester
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
Yale University
Employment
540.6%
546.2%
544.4%
518.2%
595.2%
Expected Type of Employment When Entered
Education
81.3%
87.1%
92.6%
89.5%
72.7%
86.4%
Government
0.0%
1.4%
5.3%
4.5%
Private Sector
18.8%
11.4%
7.4%
18.2%
9.1%
Expected Type of Employment At this Time
65.6%
67.1%
85.2%
84.2%
3.1%
5.7%
31.3%
22.9%
3.7%
27.3%
Academic Support
Mentor
% with Mentor in Program
96.9%
91.4%
100.0%
% with External Mentor
25.0%
31.4%
40.7%
47.4%
Academic Assessment
Program Provides Assmt of Academic Progress
98.6%
94.7%
90.9%
Assessment of Acad. Progress is Helpful
95.7%
81.5%
77.8%
85.0%
Timely feedback on Dissertation Research
92.3%
88.9%
81.8%
77.3%
Dissertation Feedback helpful
78.9%
Relationship with faculty advisor
Highly Interactive, Supportive
58.6%
55.6%
52.6%
54.5%
68.2%
Neutral
12.5%
10.5%
Distant, Antagonistic or Hostile
Relationship with faculty
40.6%
28.6%
37.0%
15.8%
36.4%
40.9%
28.1%
30.0%
22.2%

12. Institution
University of Massachusetts at Worcester
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
University of Rochester
University of Vermont
Yale University
Program Quality and Resources
540.6%
546.2%
544.4%
518.2%
595.2%
Overall Quality
Very Satisfied
59.4%
72.9%
81.5%
31.6%
45.5%
59.1%
Somewhat Satisfied
40.6%
22.9%
14.8%
57.9%
54.5%
36.4%
Not Satisfied
0.0%
4.3%
3.7%
10.5%
4.5%
Intellectual environment
% saying they benefit 'a lot' from program's intellectual environment
62.5%
77.1%
36.8%
72.7%
77.3%
Social interaction
% saying they are 'very satisfied' with the (program-sponsored) social interaction in the program
31.3%
27.1%
40.7%
47.4%
18.2%
Computer Resources
% that rate computer resources as 'excellent' or 'good'
93.8%
90.0%
96.3%
84.2%
100.0%
86.4%
Research facilities
% that rate research facilities as 'excellent' or 'good'
81.3%
91.4%
92.6%
94.7%
95.5%
Work space
% that rate workspace as 'excellent' or 'good'
90.6%
84.3%
85.2%
78.9%
90.9%
Healthcare
% that rate healthcare as 'excellent' or 'good'
62.9%
52.6%
Demographics
Age
Average Age
30.5
29.5
31.5
29.6
31.6
30.4
Gender
% male
43.8%
60.0%
44.4%
68.2%
% female
56.3%
40.0%
55.6%
68.4%
31.8%
Marital Status
Married
46.9%
25.7%
26.3%
Never Married
34.4%
Citizenship
% US-born
66.7%
% Naturalized
8.6%
5.3%
9.1%
% Green Card
3.1%
% Temporary Visa
53.1%
12.9%
33.3%
42.1%
Racial Background
% Non-Asian Minority
5.6%
% Hispanic
12.5%
5.7%
7.4%

13. Revisions
Institutions were asked to submit “mistakes, misunderstandings and errors”
NRC will make university submissions of mistakes and misunderstandings publicly available
NRC has corrected errors, revised some variables, and re-run rankings
5000 eyes vs. 50
Need to explain methodology and data definitions to program directors
Conference held on uses of data and whether and what should be done next time.

14. Likely Revisions Honors and awards Revised citations per publication
Calculated academic placements based on respondents, not total Ph.D.s
→ Some changes in ranges of rankings, usually not large.
For neuroscience, the regression-based ranking saw the most changes, but none in the .05 R moved up, 14% in the .95 R moved up. 15% in the .05 R moved down, 1% in the .95 R