Our latest blog series shedding light on how members of our community are being affected by recent government funding and policy changes continues with a look into the direct impact to our early career scientists and the future generation of researchers. Read the first post on how the changes are driving researchers abroad here. 

The American Dream has long promised that with hard work and merit, anyone can make a difference and attain a high standard of living in the United States. For early career scientists, that dream has meant pursuing knowledge that improves lives by building careers in labs and classrooms where new ideas take root. But with recent policy changes, that path is narrowing fast. Restrictions on immigration, rescinded offers, visa obstacles, and cuts to research funding have made it harder for scientists to contribute their talents to the U.S. scientific enterprise. These barriers not only limit individual opportunity but also hinder global collaboration, slow the dissemination of knowledge, and threaten progress toward a more diverse, innovative, and inclusive scientific community.

Promising research has been halted, grants rescinded, and opportunities erased, not because the science was flawed, but because of shifting political priorities. For many researchers, the message is clear: the U.S. is no longer a champion of science and scientists. That message is pushing the next generation to choose between leaving science—or leaving the country.

Science is being shut down at the starting line

Universities across the U.S. are shrinking graduate cohorts in life sciences. In some programs, training grants have been canceled; in others, admissions have been paused entirely. A study from The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities found that 139 of 694 terminated grants were training grants that support early-career researchers and can sometimes be intended to promote diversity in the sciences.1 That means fewer future scientists trained, fewer discoveries made, and fewer opportunities for those from underrepresented backgrounds or smaller institutions to break in.

But the losses are not just logistical—they’re deeply personal.

A longtime genetics professor described a growing pattern that’s especially painful for mentors: “Excellent scientific work that earned merit-based funding is now being thrown away.” One of his students who faced food shortages and homelessness growing up has jumped through every hoop thrown at her to obtain her GED, complete a master’s in science, and pursue a PhD at a R1 university. Now, her fellowship to do important research studying circadian control in adipocytes has been terminated after three years of work. Grants and fellowships awarded through rigorous review are being quietly rescinded, even after early career scientists prepared their proposals.

For many of these researchers, much of their hard work has evaporated. Some are now working without pay, uncertain if their projects or careers can continue. “The last two months or so, many of us haven’t even been certain whether or not we will get our next paycheck,” said a postdoctoral fellow from an Ivy League university. 

These disruptions fracture careers before they begin. One postdoctoral fellow at another Ivy League said, “I’m in the fourth year of my postdoctoral studies. It’s essential that I be able to go to conferences right now and network. It’s essential that I finish up my projects and publish papers. I’m in this critical window where I need to be applying for faculty positions…at universities where hiring is now frozen.” Previously awarded funding that would have allowed her to get her foot in the door has been taken away, effectively cutting her off from starting her career. Talented students face impossible decisions: do they leave science, or leave the country? It’s a forced choice as other countries step up to welcome the same researchers the U.S. is turning away.

DEI attacks undermine science and scientists

One of the most disturbing developments is the cancellation of grants flagged for including terms like “diversity,” “equity,” “accessibility,” or “underrepresented.” In many cases, these terms are used in purely scientific contexts, such as describing data accessibility or population diversity in genetic studies. But under new, politically charged policies, they’ve become red flags. 

Review processes now sometimes rely on automated keyword searches, tools that misinterpret scientific meaning and cast a wide, damaging net. As The Washington Post reported, some grants were pulled after being flagged by such filters despite having passed rigorous peer review.

One postdoctoral fellow took a risk in giving up funding to pursue an NIH-funded MOSAIC K99 grant—a grant that funds exemplary research and also rewards folks who have spent time and energy towards service in STEM, especially in DEI spaces—which has now been canceled. “It’s been pretty heartbreaking,” she says. “My job is safe, for now, but I’m spending almost half my time (which ought to be spent on research!) on advocacy efforts to try and support the other MOSAIC scholars, support other researchers at my institution whose jobs are at risk, organize phone banks to call Senators… the fact that I’m the kind of person who does this work is exactly why I got the MOSAIC grant, but right now, it’s an incredible burden.”

Rolling back DEI efforts and penalizing researchers for inclusive language doesn’t just threaten individual careers—it limits the scope and relevance of scientific discovery. If scientists cannot study underrepresented groups, cannot prioritize accessibility, or cannot write about diverse populations, what progress are we choosing to forgo? Without a full grasp of the country’s diverse needs, we are letting down those groups who need research and progress the most. 

What’s at stake: A community, and a future

At its heart, this is about more than just policy. It’s about people who believe in science and in each other. It’s about building a global genetics community where early career scientists feel supported and able to thrive. As one student put it, “canceling the NIH Summer Fellowship was not simply about losing a line on my resume. It was a blunt, unambiguous signal that our country’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientists is alarmingly shallow. Publicly funded programs like this are the backbone of research mentorship and training in the U.S.”

We hear from students, faculty, and researchers every week who are scared, frustrated, and exhausted. They’ve done everything right: earned competitive funding, aligned their work with national priorities, built strong collaborations. And yet, their paths are being blocked by policies that seem to value political optics over scientific excellence.

Without a generation of young, eager scientists, what is the future of genetics? Of innovation? Of biomedical progress? “If we are serious about innovation, public health, and scientific leadership, federally supported research programs cannot be treated as political bargaining chips.” We cannot afford to let short-term politics compromise long-term discovery.

Science thrives when talent is nurtured, not narrowed. It grows through shared knowledge, global collaboration, and consistent investment. If you’re a student or early-career researcher impacted by these issues and would be willing to share your experience anonymously, we’d like to hear from you. Your voice matters. Submit your story through this private form.

  1. Anil Oza, “NIH grant terminations under Trump have totaled at least $1.8 billion, analysis finds”, STAT News, May 8, 2025T, www.statnews.com/2025/05/08/trump-nih-cuts-jama-study-analyzes-1-point-8-billion-in-grant-cancellations. ↩︎
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