After the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump, government support for scientific research has been drastically reduced, prompting scientists to look outside the United States for better opportunities.
The international journal 'Nature' reported on the 22nd (local time) that "as the budget and personnel cuts in the U.S. scientific field have begun in earnest, the overseas job-seeking activities of American scientists increased by 32% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year."
According to analysis from the Nature Careers platform, the number of scientists viewing overseas job listings in the U.S. increased by 35% in the first quarter. In March alone, the number of views surged by a remarkable 68% compared to the same month of the previous year. This coincided with the Trump administration starting to cut scientific research funding.
Last month, over 200 U.S. federal subsidies for research on the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were abruptly terminated, and research related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) also took a direct hit from budget cuts.
Columbia University lost $400 million (about 570 billion won) in research funding from the federal government due to pro-Palestinian protests. Xiao Wu, a professor at Columbia, noted on X (formerly Twitter), "The NIH funding I received was suddenly canceled just three months after it was awarded," adding, "It's essentially a situation where we are being kicked out of American educational institutions."
Michael Friedlander, director of the Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech, told Nature, "Students and postdoctoral researchers are fundamentally questioning whether they should continue on the path of being scientists." A recent survey conducted by the American Postdoctoral Association revealed that 43% felt their positions were precarious, and 35% reported that their research has been delayed or halted.
Some scientists have already left the United States. Valerie Neiman, a researcher at the University of Bern in Switzerland, moved there this year after conducting research at Stanford University. Neiman stated, "In the U.S., it's uncertain how long a postdoctoral researcher's tenure can last," noting, "I cannot even apply because I don't know when the funding support program will disappear."
European and Asian countries are actively attracting scientific talent leaving the United States. Aix-Marseille University in France has launched a $17 million (about 2.42 billion won) program called "Safe Spaces for Science" to invite 15 American researchers in the fields of climate, health, environment, and social sciences. Patrick Kramer, president of the Max Planck Society in Germany, announced plans to establish collaborative research centers with U.S. institutions, providing postdoctoral training programs and research spaces for early-career researchers at 84 affiliated institutes.
Data from Nature Careers indicates that in March, the number of American applicants for job postings in Europe increased by 32% compared to the same period last year, and the number of views surged by 41%. Meanwhile, the number of European researchers applying to U.S. institutions decreased by 41%.
China is actively posting recruitment ads targeting American scientists, promoting opportunities for entrepreneurship and career development through social media. According to Nature, the number of times Americans viewed job postings in China increased by 30%, and the number of applicants rose by 20% in the first quarter of this year. Interest in other Asian countries also grew by more than 30% compared to last year.
References
Nature (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01216-7