Syed,
Thanks for the input, it was really insightful. I do like the environment of large research universities and their research parks. I am sure universities like UW-Madison, UIUC are great centers for cutting edge research. So what kind of research do you work on? Alright, take care.

Dhobi,

Most research was conducted in their own labs that were custom built for the company. The company also housed some equipment that the University bought for the company and is shared by others at the university. The university park is very clean, sophisticated, hitech, and has well educated employees. Many connections existed between the university and the university research park. You can literally walk right across from Engineering buildings to the research park. However, it is seperate at the same time. Most students don't even know what those buildings over there are for. At the same time, people at the research park can also and often do just walk over to see experts at the university or just get a starbucks coffee at the library. Recruiting employees was also much easier as the company recruited from several departments in the college of arts and sciences and also business.

Thanks for your input, did your company conduct most of their bench/basic research at the university labs? How did you find the working environment at the university park, did you feel that it was more of an academic/university culture? I am thinking recruiting employees must have been easy given the pool of fresh grads.

Yes, I had worked for a biotech firm located at a Research I level university's Research Park. They hired many staff from the University as well as internationally. It was a great asset for them and they openly promoted it.