I think the biomedical academic job market is tight enough that you could fairly easily attract a strong class of researchers to nearly any second tier city. Maybe not the best of the best of the best (at first), but there’s enough bright people doing 6+ year post docs that you’ll recruit junior faculty in a flash.
Credentials: did my PhD and postdoc at R1 institutions, before going to greener pastures in industry.
There is no best-of-the-best at this stage. Only those who seem hyper bright. Success in biomedical research is much more about other factors—persistence and inquisitiveness being two that are crucial.
Credentials: did my PhD and postdoc at R1 institutions, before going to greener pastures in industry.