The scientific exodus from the United States gains momentum

BarcelonaThe drain of scientists from the United States is accelerating. Donald Trump's return to the US presidency has shaken the research sector, which has already seen the new administration withdraw grants for projects from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and censor lines of research related to gender perspectives and the climate crisis. Discontent has increased as cuts to science have intensified, and as a result, more and more researchers are seeking work abroad. An exodus of scientists is confirmed by an analysis by the journal Nature, which states that between January and March 2025, 32% more researchers working at American institutions have submitted applications for work abroad compared to the same period the previous year.

"People don't know how long their postdocs will last. We can't apply for grants because we don't know how long they will exist," he explains. Nature Chemical engineer Valerie Niemann, who is one of the many scientists looking beyond the United States to develop her career, has a job portal for scientists from around the world called Nature Careers and has detected that the number of users based in the United States seeking work abroad is on the rise. In March alone, there was a 68% increase compared to March of last year. In fact, the magazine conducted a survey a month ago that revealed that three out of four researchers in the country are willing to leave.

The Trump administration has suspended more than 200 grants for HIV and AIDS research, cut funding for projects focused on COVID-19, and will reduce the aid previously received by Columbia University by about $400 million following pro-Palestinian protests on campus. In addition, the government froze $2.2 billion in federal funds and suspended $60 million in federal contracts at Harvard after the school refused to yield to the new administration's campaign to try to control the functioning of universities.

All of this has created a breeding ground for more and more professionals to seek scientific asylum. "This large drop in views and applications in the United States and the similar increase in those wanting to leave are unprecedented," says James Richards, who heads the magazine's Global Talent Solutions team.

The world is rubbing its hands together.

Applications from American scientists seeking opportunities in Canada have increased by 41% between January and March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. In contrast, applications from Canadian researchers seeking employment in the United States have decreased by 13%. The same is happening in the EU: applications to American institutions from European researchers have decreased by 41%. In fact, the other side of the coin is the commitment many universities, research centers, and governments around the world have made to attract talent that wants to leave.

The Spanish government, for example, has already made a move to attract renowned researchers who now work in the United States, and approveda call endowed with 45 million eurosto incorporate, especially, researchers "despised" by Trump into the Spanish research system. The Generalitat also announced a 78-position program in Catalonia for "high-level" researchers currently working in the United States. As reported by ARA,The Catalan government has drawn up a plan to hunt down American researchers who would be harmed by Trump's policies., called Catalunya Talent Bridge, and has allocated 30 million euros spread over the next three years.