In the recent paper “Scientific Talent Leaks Out of Funding Gaps,” Wei Yang Tham from the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard, along with Joseph Staudt and Bitsy Perlman of the US Census Bureau, and Stephanie Cheng of Edgeworth Economics, highlight the important role of stable and timely funding in retaining scientific talent within the US. This work is a call to action for the US to improve funding stability to support the US research workforce.
The paper underscores the fragility of the scientific workforce ecosystem, spotlighting how even temporary funding interruptions can destabilize individual careers and thereby hurt US innovation. Key insights include:
- Significant Career Impacts: Funding delays are linked to a stark 40% increase in the likelihood of scientific personnel not working in the US, . Those that remain employed and in the US experience notable declines in salary. This attrition of talent poses a direct threat to the competitive edge and intellectual capital of the nation.
- Trainees Most Affected: These effects are disproportionately borne by trainees. This suggests that potential future leaders in science are being lost, further exacerbating the long-term effects on the scientific community and its capacity for innovation.
- Call to Action for Policy Reforms: These findings serve as a critical call to action for policymakers, funding agencies, and universities, emphasizing the need for reforms to ensure consistent and reliable funding to support the valuable scientific workforce that depends on grants. Such measures can help to retain talent, foster innovation, and maintain US leadership in global research and development.
The paper is an essential read for anyone involved in or affected by scientific research funding, offering compelling evidence of the impacts of funding instability and the need for systemic change to protect and nurture the future of science in the US.