Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system.
The University expended $472.7 million in support of research system-wide in
2006–07, using funds received from the state and federal governments, industry,
foundations, and individual donors. The faculty and more than 400 research
laboratories put Purdue University among the leading research institutions. Purdue
University is considered by the Carnegie
Classification of Institutions of Higher Education to have "very high
research activity". Purdue also was rated the nation's fourth
best place to work in academia, according to rankings released in November 2007
by The Scientist
magazine. Purdue's researchers provide insight,
knowledge, assistance, and solutions in many crucial areas. These include, but
are not limited to Agriculture; Business and Economy; Education; Engineering;
Environment; Healthcare; Individuals, Society, Culture; Manufacturing; Science;
Technology; Veterinary Medicine. Purdue University generated a record $438
million in sponsored research funding during the 2009–10 fiscal year with
participation from National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and the U.S. departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Health and
Human Services.
The Purdue
Research Park which opened in 1961 was developed
by Purdue Research Foundation which is a private, nonprofit foundation created
to assist Purdue. The park is focused on companies operating in the arenas of
life sciences, homeland security, engineering, advanced manufacturing and
information technology. It provides an interactive environment for
experienced Purdue researchers and for private business and high-tech
industry. It currently employs more than
3,000 people in 155 companies, including 90 technology-based firms. The Purdue Research Park
was ranked first by the Association of University Research Parks in 2004.
In its 2016 edition, U.S. News & World Report
ranked Purdue as tied for the 21st-best public university in the United States,
tied for 61st overall, and tied for 72nd best globally. Additionally, U.S. News & World
Report rated Purdue tied for 14th for best undergraduate teaching, and the
graduate program in engineering tied for 6th best nationally. The Academic Ranking of World
Universities in 2015 ranked Purdue's engineering program 19th
internationally, and ranked the specific subjects of chemistry 20th and computer
science 21st internationally.