A Brain Drain in the Making
A growing number of top-tier U.S. scientists are packing their labs and heading overseas, driven by sweeping changes to federal research funding and academic priorities under the Trump administration.
Key Departures
"The new administration did not value higher education."
Megan Peters, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, Irvine, has accepted a position at University College London (UCL) and will relocate in summer 2025. She is not alone.
Tamara Swaab and Ron Mangun of the University of California, Davis have also accepted positions at the University of Birmingham in the UK.
Steve Fleming of UCL noted that two other "high profile recruits" have left tenured positions in the U.S. to join his institution.
The Scale of the Exodus
A Nature analysis found that U.S. scientists submitted nearly a third more applications for jobs abroad in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024.
A March 2025 survey of over 1,600 U.S. scientists revealed a striking statistic:
75% of respondents were considering leaving the United States.
What's Driving the Move?
Since President Trump began his second term in 2025:
- Federal grants have been delayed or terminated at major agencies.
- Universities face heightened scrutiny for research on race and gender.
- NIH and NSF have been restructured to align with White House priorities.
The Trump administration states these measures aim to "restore gold standard science, reduce bureaucracy, and cut costs."
Meanwhile, other nations are actively recruiting. The UK, for instance, has introduced the Global Talent Fund, offering $70 million specifically for researchers.
The Loss of Optimism
Tamara Swaab described a shift in morale:
"A loss of optimism in US science... optimism is now stronger in British and European scientists."
Ron Mangun framed the move as both a response to policy and a personal opportunity for "new experiences." He also predicted that U.S. voters will eventually demand a renewed commitment to science.