US academics, particularly early-career researchers and PhD students, are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad due to significant funding cuts to scientific research and perceived attacks on academic freedom by the Trump administration. This 'brain drain' is reversing the historical trend of the US attracting top global talent, with countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, and Canada actively recruiting American scientists.
‘No way to invest in a career here’: US academics flee overseas to avoid Trump crackdown
Donald TrumpUS universitiesUS educationHigher educationUnited StatesWorldSocietyEurope
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️US academics, particularly early-career researchers and PhD students, are increasingly seeking opportunities abroad due to significant funding cuts to scientific research and perceived attacks on academic freedom by the Trump administration. This 'brain drain' is reversing the historical trend of the US attracting top global talent, with countries like France, Denmark, Sweden, and Canada actively recruiting American scientists.
Trending- 1 2010: Emmanuel Guerisoli moved to the US.
- 2 Last month (May 2025): Trump administration ordered US embassies worldwide to immediately stop scheduling visa interviews for foreign students.
- 3 April (2025): Searches for US PhD programs on FindAPhD fell 40% year on year.
- 4 April (2025): University of British Columbia reopened graduate applications specifically to accommodate interested US students.
- 5 This fall (2025): Eric Schuster will be starting his graduate studies in France.
- 6 This summer (2025): Emmanuel Guerisoli decided to move to Argentina.
- Significant 'brain drain' from the US academic sector
- Loss of top talent and intellectual capital for the US
- Reduced scientific research capacity and innovation in the US
- Potential negative impact on public health (cutting research pipeline for services, medicines, treatments)
- Increased anxiety and uncertainty among academics in the US
- Other countries benefiting from the influx of US talent
What: US academics are leaving the country for overseas opportunities, leading to a 'brain drain.' This exodus is driven by the Trump administration's severe funding cuts to scientific research (e.g., NSF, NIH) and its perceived assaults on academic freedom and universities (e.g., Columbia, Harvard, visa suspensions for international students).
When: Published June 15, 2025. Recent months (chaos for international students), last month (Trump administration ordered visa interview halt), April (FindAPhD searches fell 40% year on year), 2010 (Emmanuel Guerisoli moved to US).
Where: United States (San Diego, Massachusetts, Boston, north-east US, Arizona), France, Europe, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Argentina, Madrid, Portugal. Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SIO), University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility at the New School, Columbia University, Harvard University, University of Edinburgh, Aix-Marseille University, University Health Network (Toronto), University of British Columbia.
Why: To escape unstable academic funding, pervasive anti-science narratives, and perceived threats to academic freedom and personal safety under the Trump administration.
How: Academics are pursuing graduate studies and jobs abroad. Foreign countries and the EU are actively courting US scientists with funding and fast-tracked positions.