Small Times magazine's third-annual survey of top nanotechnology institutions placed Cornell in the top 10 of every category listed, including research, education and facilities. Cornell also received high marks from peer institutions for its research and commercialization abilities.

The nanotechnology trade magazine calculated Cornell as second overall among nanotechnology institutions, behind only University at Albany, State University of New York. The overall ranking was generated from questionnaires sent to dozens of scientists at research institutions who answered 26 questions about their nanotechnology programs.

In the overall ranking categories, Cornell was fourth in research, fifth in commercialization, sixth in facilities and 10th in education.

"Cornell encourages interdisciplinary academic programs and research," Small Times noted about Cornell. "Its innovations include its nanofabrication facility and discovery in the field of nanobiotechnology. The university's mission is to generate new knowledge about micro- and nanoscience, and then to transfer that knowledge for the public good."

The magazine also highlighted the strong links between Cornell's nanoscience programs and biological and agricultural research, as well as "a growing engagement with Weill Cornell Medical College."

In peer rankings, Cornell was fourth in nano research, fifth in micro research and sixth in commercialization of both nano and micro sciences.

"Once again we've been appropriately recognized by both the national media and our peers for our excellence in nanoscience," said Joseph Burns, vice provost for physical sciences and engineering.

Burns also noted the recognition Cornell received for its nanoscience facilities, including the flagship Duffield Hall, which houses Cornell NanoScale Facility, a national user facility supported by the National Science Foundation.

"We are educating the next generation of scientists with the best faculty in superb facilities," Burns continued. "We firmly believe that our excellence in nanoscience will be an important component of economic growth in upstate New York in the next five years."