What universities in the US have the best opportunities for undergraduate research?

University or the Professor with whom we work with is the priority while choosing our research position in US universities thinking of the opportunities and recognition.?

• Answer:

  I have just decided on which university to join for my PhD, and I this was the the one question that I needed answered. So, I'll share my experience, and it'd probably benefit you and others. In my opinion, it's indeed the university that matters more than the professor with whom you intend to work. This might sound counter-intuitive, so let me explain why. If you have been searching for professors to work with for PhD, you probably know by now that the best research happens in places where there is not just one good professor, but a group of good professors collaborating with each other. Typically, these groups will be in reputed universities like MIT, Stanford, etc. Research groups typically work better than single professors probably because of the increased scope for fresh ideas to come in. Reputed institutes also mean more capable and brilliant students, and thus a better research environment overall. You might be tempted to join a not-so-reputed university, under a very very well known professor. While this option gives you the benefit of better contacts with the industry (your professor will probably be very well known in the research community), the pitfall in this option is that if, for some reason, things don't work out well between you and your professor, you will not have anybody else to approach. You will be stuck with the same advisor for your entire PhD. Another factor to think about is how much time your advisor will be able to spend on you. The top professors typically remain so busy, your work will mostly be in collaboration with post-docs. I actually know a professor in Germany who has over 40 students, many of who haven't met him even once (Please do note that this is not universal. Some of the top persons in formal verification, like Dan Kreoning at Oxford, are known to be wonderful advisors too). Now, let me add a point that may not be applicable to everybody. A lot depends on what you wish to do after PhD. If you are and Indian (I know that the asker certainly is), and hope to come back to India and settle down in an academic life, the odds are that you will be judged by people who won't be from the exact domain as you. In these cases, neither the very-famous-professor nor the not-so-famous-professor will be known to the people judging you. Then, being from a reputed institution can really be handy.