Why Choose Columbia, MO? Life in Columbia, Missouri When it comes to outsourcing drug development programs, you have a choice. If you're looking for a relationship with a partner who has the capabilities you expect from a mega-CRO, but are tired of vying for the attention you deserve, consider ABC Laboratories. About Columbia, MO Columbia, Missouri, is a lively university town in the heart of the Midwest Bio-Innovation Belt. From Manhattan, Kansas, to St. Louis, Missouri, you'll find a tremendous amount of academic, medical and entrepreneurial research activities. Columbia itself is home to the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center (MURR), Nanotechnogy Center, Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL), Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center and Life Science Incubator at Monsanto Place. So opportunities to interact with like-minded colleagues are abundant! Work/Life balance, down to a science Columbia residents enjoy a high quality of life and a low cost of living. The average commute to work is less than 13 minutes. Our public school district receives high marks for excellence, with more than 80 percent of high school graduates continuing their education. And although our housing market has remained stable through the economic downturn, Columbia home prices rank in the most affordable 15 percent of all cities in the country. So as an ABC employee, you can live better, for less. After-hours fun Whether your idea of fun is a rock concert, art show or a quiet stroll surrounded by nature, you'll find ample options for filling your down time. Columbia hosts a wide array of theatre, film, art and other cultural events, plus a great live music scene and wonderful independent restaurants. And if you enjoy college football, basketball or tailgating, you will find no shortage of fellow sports enthusiasts and home game festivities. For the outdoor types, Columbia offers 45 public parks and two state parks, more than 34 miles of nature and fitness trails, and numerous public and private golf courses, swimming pools and tennis courts throughout the city.