A new study found that federal research funding has led many researchers to explore opportunities abroad.
The majority of US-based scientists who responded to essentially new polls said they were considering leaving the country in response to drastic changes in federal research policies and funding under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Responses collected in early March through nature websites, social media and newsletters reflect growing anxiety across the scientific community, as well as major changes in US scientific funding, staffing and research priorities, according to survey results.
This trend is most prominent among early career researchers, polls found. Of the 690 postdoctoral researchers who responded, 548 said they were considering leaving. Of the 340 people during their PhD, 255 responded the same. Europe and Canada were cited as the most likely destinations if they left the country.
The findings came amid continuing cuts and restructuring of funding at federal scientific agencies. The Trump administration has eliminated or halted a large segment of federally funded research under a cost-cutting initiative led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Thousands of federal scientists have been fired or have been temporarily revived by court orders, with more layoffs expected.
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Still, she told the publication she was applying for a fellowship for educational and postdocs abroad.
“It’s heartbreaking to see everything stop,” she said. “I am very enthusiastic about opportunities in Europe, Australia and Mexico.”
Foreign institutions appear to be in response to waves of dislocation. Physician scientists said universities in other countries view it as a “one generation opportunity” to attract American talent.
Not all scientists are interested in leaving. Some respondents said that US institutions still provide the best research facilities. Others said they wanted to stay to support students and labs as long as possible.
For others, funding for uncertainty and concerns about political interference has led to serious consideration. One respondent’s faculty said, “If the NIH is dramatically cut off, we may not be able to stay in the US.”
