Funding cuts and political pressure drive US researchers overseas

The big picture: A growing number of American researchers are exploring scientific careers outside the United States, spurred by deep funding reductions and political interference that have upended the nation's research environment. Recent figures from Nature's global science jobs platform highlight this trend: in the first quarter of 2025, applications from US-based scientists for overseas positions climbed by 32 percent compared to a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of American users searching for international roles increased by 35 percent, and March alone saw a 68 percent year-over-year spike in views of non-US job postings. The exodus is largely driven by abrupt federal funding withdrawals and project cancellations. Last month, over 200 grants supporting HIV and AIDS research were terminated. The National Institutes of Health also cut back on Covid-19 research funding and eliminated $400 million in research grants at Columbia University, citing campus unrest related to the Isr ... Read full article.