- cross-posted to:
- science@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- science@lemmy.world
The Trump administration’s planned cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) not only threaten essential biomedical research in the US, but the livelihoods of researchers – and some are seriously considering leaving the country.
A 27 January memo from the Office of Management and Budget instructed federal agencies to pause funding allocations to ensure they serve Donald Trump’s goals, including “ending ‘wokeness’ and the weaponization of government, promoting efficiency in government, and Making America Healthy Again”.
On 7 February, the administration implemented a policy that would cut NIH funding to research institutions by over two-thirds. A federal judge has since blocked the cuts – for now.
I hate the anti-intellectuals so very much. And they almost entirely reside in the Republiqon Party.
They are going to do so much damage to this country. It might never be undone.
I just accepted my offer to leave my university in the US for one in Europe. My mathematician of a wife is going to start working for one there too.
When I told my US colleagues they uniformly said how lucky I am and that they’re thinking about going too. Our University faculty and staff are looking to leave and we have the ability to do so. Brain drain is real and the US is about to see it first hand.
Do you have any advice for someone that only knows English for selecting a good place in the EU?
I’m no expert in immigration nor work opportunities. I focused on universities that teach undergraduate programs in English (many do graduate levels in English) so they’d be more open to my application.
I made a very long list of universities with programs and research in my topic and found their jobs pages. I then would check them all every so often for positions. When there’s was a good opening I dropped everything and applied.
If you only know English then it’s more about what you bring to the economy where you’re applying to. Will you find a job? Pay taxes? Pay your rent? Mostly, the question is whether you’ll be a burden on the state or not.
Good places would be Ireland (English speaking), then it would have been Scotland and England. After that… Germany is interested in brining in workers to fill open roles if they will learn to fit in and pay taxes. After that it’ll be tougher, but doable. Get a contract offer for a job and you’ll be in much better shape. I did interviews at all hours, skipped work to travel for interviews, and networked. I wrote lots of cover letters on what I want and why.
It is possible to make the move. Your interest in where you apply and your skills you bring are the key factors (unless you’re independently wealthy).
There’s even some companies that help people find jobs and get through immigration. I talked with one called Bonus Relocation in Spain that worked all over Europe and they will help you from the earliest stages of seeking a job to renting an apartment after you move. Great people.
And this, while we are right at a critical juncture when it comes to things like AI.
I’m waiting for my visa stuff to go through, but I’m also in the process of leaving the US
If Europeans wouldn’t sleep on this opportunity, we could massively improve our science recruiting. Related scientific paper of what getting the fired scientists from an autocracy can do to your science system: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.104.10.3222
Our loss might be Europe’s gain. Unless they get a right wing problem, too.
So we’re gunna be a version of nazi Germany, but without the coveted rocket scientists. Just a bunch of dumb idiots, causing lots of problems. The US is going to be equivalent to that guy on the bus who is very obnoxious and loud, but is also very dangerous. Like, most of his problems are his own, but will absolutely stab you for little provocation.
True but also the US already IS that person.
Like Pol Pot. I imagine that the generational devastations will be similar in length and intensity.
I’m a physicist in 5th year of phd program & my partner is mathematician in her masters, we’re both considering moving away cause fuck this country lmao should be communist but instead fascist? cringe
I’m in 5th year of phd in semiconductor design and fabrication - I too am weighing my international options!
You thought the US was communist?
The US is communist, but only for the rich (“All the wealth for us”)
Then the rest of us get the “free market” treatment.
Socialism for the oligarchs; “laissez faire, laissez passer” capitalism for everyone else.
Sounds like Europe will reenforce itself soon on science.
Soon laws will come that won’t allow scientists to leave, mark my words
💯. As soon as the brain drain is noticeable by the oligarchy.
I’m sure Trump sees scientist as unimportant for a functioning society. Anything he can’t grasp without thought confuses him and he wants to get rid of.
Bronzo the Clown probably thinks fElon has an army of clones just as “smart” and “educated” as fElon is, but 19 years old.
'Make America Healthy Again’ has led to slashes in NIH funding has some serious 1984 vibes to it.
💯💯💯💯💯