A postdoctoral scientist looks at brain tissue sections from mice at a Lab in Yale School of Medicine, New Haven City, Connecticut State, U.S., March 24, 2024. /VCG
A postdoctoral scientist looks at brain tissue sections from mice at a Lab in Yale School of Medicine, New Haven City, Connecticut State, U.S., March 24, 2024. /VCG
A recent survey conducted by the prestigious British scientific journal Nature reveals that approximately 75 percent of surveyed U.S. scientists are considering leaving the country as the current U.S. administration has disrupted their future career plans.
According to Nature, the survey, launched earlier this month, was distributed via the journal's website, social media, and email. It asked respondents whether policy changes in the U.S. research sector under the current administration had prompted them to consider relocating abroad.
The results indicate that among the more than 1,600 U.S. scientists who completed the survey, over 1,200, about 75 percent, are considering leaving the U.S. due to disruptions prompted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Europe and Canada were among the top choices for their relocation.
The survey further highlights that this trend is particularly pronounced among early-career researchers. Of the 690 postgraduate researchers who responded, 548 plan to pursue research opportunities outside the U.S. Similarly, 255 out of 340 PhD students expressed the same intent.
According to Nature, the primary reasons cited by these researchers for considering relocation include sweeping budget cuts to research funding and the suspension of numerous federally funded scientific initiatives as part of a cost-reduction strategy spearheaded by Elon Musk.
Tens of thousands of federal employees, including many scientists, have faced layoffs and reinstatements following a court order, with further job cuts looming. Additionally, stringent immigration policies and ongoing debates over academic freedom have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and instability, further disrupting the U.S. research landscape.