Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as M.I.T., received a fourth-place ranking in the ARWU's Top 100. This university was founded in 1865 and specializes in the use of science in technology. Research projects at M.I.T. include creating alternative solutions for energy needs, developing cancer treatments and constructing astronomical devices. In 2010, M.I.T.'s Sloan School of Engineering undergraduate program received a top-ranking from "U.S. News & World Report" magazine.
As of fall 2010, Stanford University is the third-ranked university in the ARWU's Top 100 and was placed in the top 10 of the organization's Natural Sciences and Mathematics ranking. This university is in Palo Alto, California, and was founded in 1891, making it one of the first private research universities in the Western United States. Stanford conducts research on its campus facilities but also through independent labs, such as the Stanford Research Institute (SRI). SRI has been the recipient of the Global Leadership in Innovation and Collaboration Award and the Sustained Excellence by a Performer Award, which is given by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
The University of Cambridge, also referred to as Cambridge University, is in Cambridge, England, and ranked third place in the ARWU's Natural Sciences and Mathematics Top 100 ranking. This public research university is one of the oldest educational establishments in Europe, founded in 1209. Many of the university's research projects are related to biological sciences. The biological sciences school features Nobel-prize-winning professors and offers research fellowships for graduate school teachers, such as the Shield Fund and Grindley Fund.
The University of Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan, was ranked 26th in the Times Higher Education Top 200 overall ranking for its 11 graduate research programs, which specialize in cosmic and earthquake studies. Other graduate research programs conduct studies on pharmaceutical sciences and mathematical sciences. Founded in 1877, the university is also one of the most respected academic institutes in Asia, according to Global Universities Ranking. The alumni and students of the University of Tokyo refer to the school as "Todai."