The Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private, non-profit biomedical research university founded in 1901, operating 72 laboratories in molecular biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, and virology. It trains PhD students and SURF fellows and is home to 26 Nobel laureates, funded by a $3.0B endowment, research grants, and philanthropy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1901
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Rockefeller University does
The Rockefeller University is a private, non-profit research university founded in 1901 and headquartered on a 15-acre campus on the Upper East Side of New York City. It operates 72 biomedical laboratories covering molecular biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, virology, structural biology, and infectious disease, and is the institutional home of 26 Nobel Prize winners. The university's core activities are scientific research and graduate-level bioscience education; it runs the David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience (PhD) and the Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), and is currently marking its 125th anniversary under the Discover 125 campaign.
The university produces both fundamental research output and proprietary research tools, including the MultiQ-IT mass spectrometry prototype, a cell-free transcription method, an optimized proximity labeling platform for mapping organ communication, and a single-cell epigenomic atlas of aging. Its Vertebrate Genome Laboratory is applying AI-powered genome curation as part of a $3M Google.org-funded effort targeting 150 new reference genomes. Research output is distributed through peer-reviewed publication (including via Rockefeller University Press), science communication (Seek Magazine), and a technology transfer office that commercializes discoveries. The institution is 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and is governed by a Board of Trustees, with no parent company or external controlling owner.
Rockefeller's revenue mechanics are characteristic of a major private research university rather than a commercial enterprise: an annual operating budget funded by endowment draw from a $3.0 billion endowment, federal and private research grants, philanthropic giving, and a small amount of program-related income (e.g., a $50 PhD application fee, a $6,500 SURF stipend line). The university employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people. Customer segments are educational in nature — graduate students (primary), undergraduates in the SURF program, and postdoctoral researchers — while its scientific output is consumed globally by the research community, commercial partners via technology transfer, and donors via philanthropy channels.
The Rockefeller University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Rockefeller University
- Legal name
- The Rockefeller University
- Website
- https://rockefeller.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1901
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The Rockefeller University is a private, non-profit biomedical research university founded in 1901, operating 72 laboratories in molecular biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, and virology. It trains PhD students and SURF fellows and is home to 26 Nobel laureates, funded by a $3.0B endowment, research grants, and philanthropy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Rockefeller University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biomedical Research and Graduate Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed) (MPAJABAC), Life Sciences (Biology, Ecology, Agriculture) Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAC)
Keywords
Where The Rockefeller University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
The Rockefeller University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time | SURF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship stipend |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Graduate Program Application Fee |
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
The Rockefeller University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Rockefeller University is a private, non-profit biomedical research institution operating 72 laboratories across molecular biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, virology, and structural biology. It conducts fundamental scientific research, publishes findings in peer-reviewed journals, and offers the David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience (PhD) plus the SURF summer undergraduate research fellowship.
Product overview
The Rockefeller University is a biomedical research institution that operates 72 research laboratories across various scientific disciplines. Its product and service offerings consist primarily of: (1) Research tools and methodologies including the MultiQ-IT mass spectrometry prototype and cell-free transcription methods; (2) Scientific research platforms such as the proximity labeling platform for organ communication mapping and the single-cell epigenomic atlas initiative; (3) Educational programs including the David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience (Ph.D.) and the Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF); and (4) AI-powered genome research services through the Vertebrate Genome Laboratory. The university does not offer commercial software products but rather provides research tools, educational programs, and scientific services to advance biomedical science.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience: The Ph.D. graduate program at The Rockefeller University offering training in bioscience research.
- Seek Magazine
- Rockefeller University Press
- Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
Products and services
- Chemers Neustein Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
- David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience
- Vertebrate Genome Laboratory (VGL) AI-Powered Genome Research
- MultiQ-IT Mass Spectrometry Prototype
- Proximity Labeling Platform for Organ Communication Mapping
- Cell-Free Transcription Method
Quantifiable outcome
- 65 protein signals identified linking metabolic states to human diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Rockefeller University
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Rockefeller University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature5 records
The Rockefeller University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Rockefeller University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Private research university with deep biomedical and life sciences research footprint through its Koch Institute and Whitehead Institute affiliations. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary private research university with significant NIH-funded biomedical output and graduate-only training programs in adjacent fields.
- Stanford University: Private research university with world-class biomedical research through the Stanford School of Medicine and Bio-X program. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary private research institution combining biomedical sciences, chemistry, and physics with substantial external research funding and graduate training.
- Harvard University: Private research university with the largest biomedical research operation globally through Harvard Medical School and affiliated hospitals. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary private research university with significant endowment, broad biomedical portfolio, and PhD training programs.
- Johns Hopkins University: Private research university with the largest recipient of NIH research funding in the U.S. and a leading biomedical research portfolio. Comparable as a private research university with a dominant biomedical research footprint and graduate-level training programs in bioscience.
- Yale University: Private research university with substantial biomedical research through Yale School of Medicine and affiliated institutes. Comparable as an Ivy League private research institution with significant endowment-supported biomedical research and graduate training programs.
Direct peers
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech): Small, elite private research university focused on science and engineering with minimal undergraduate teaching load relative to research output. Directly comparable as a STEM-focused doctoral research institution with similar faculty-to-student ratios and concentrated research mission.
- Princeton University: Private research university with strong molecular biology and chemistry research and a graduate-heavy research model. Comparable as a prestigious private doctoral research institution emphasizing fundamental science without a medical school but with significant biomedical laboratory capacity.
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus: Non-profit biomedical research institute focused exclusively on research without undergraduate teaching. Directly comparable as a mission-aligned pure research organization specializing in neuroscience, cell biology, and tool development for the life sciences community.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard: Non-profit research institute focused on genomics, chemical biology, and disease research with no degree-granting undergraduate program. Comparable as a mission-aligned biomedical research organization producing proprietary methods and large-scale datasets in genomics and molecular biology.
Regional players
- Columbia University: Private research university located in New York City with major biomedical research operations through Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Comparable as a New York-based private research institution with overlapping biomedical research scope and similar geographic and labor-market dynamics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Rockefeller University social profiles
Digital presenceThe Rockefeller University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Rockefeller University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Rockefeller University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
The Rockefeller University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Rockefeller University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Rockefeller University
What does The Rockefeller University do?
The Rockefeller University is a private, non-profit biomedical research institution operating 72 laboratories across molecular biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, virology, and structural biology. It conducts fundamental scientific research, publishes findings in peer-reviewed journals, and offers the David Rockefeller Graduate Program in Bioscience (PhD) plus the SURF summer undergraduate research fellowship.
Is The Rockefeller University a public or private company?
The Rockefeller University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Rockefeller University founded?
The Rockefeller University was founded in 1901. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is The Rockefeller University based?
The Rockefeller University is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
Who are The Rockefeller University's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Yale University. Direct peers are California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Princeton University, HHMI Janelia Research Campus and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Columbia University is listed as a regional player.
Does The Rockefeller University have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Rockefeller University.
What industry is The Rockefeller University in?
The Rockefeller University's product category is Biomedical Research and Graduate Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary), with a secondary code of MPAJABAC, Academic & Scholarly Journals Publishing (Peer-Reviewed). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8731.