Following President Donald Trump’s reelection and the subsequent changes in federal policy, a growing number of prominent U.S. scientists are relocating to the United Kingdom for academic positions. This migration is driven by reports that the new administration does not value higher education or scientific research conducted at universities, alongside significant shifts in how federal grants are distributed.
Shifts in Federal Support and Recruitment
Megan Peters, a cognitive scientist formerly at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), is among those leaving for University College London this summer. She noted that it became quickly apparent after Trump began his second term that the administration devalued university research. This sentiment was echoed by an analysis from the journal Nature, which found that in the first quarter of 2025, U.S. scientists submitted nearly a third more applications for jobs abroad compared to the same period in 2024.
Further highlighting this trend, a March 2025 survey of over 1,600 American scientists revealed that 75% were considering leaving the country. The departure is partly a response to delayed or terminated grants and reshaped government agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), which have been adjusted to align with White House priorities.
U.K. Offers Certainty and New Opportunities
The United Kingdom has actively recruited these researchers through initiatives such as grants from the Royal Society, the European Research Council, and a $70 million Global Talent Fund designed to attract international scholars. Steve Fleming of University College London successfully recruited Peters despite her accepting a pay cut, citing the scientific environment in London.
Similarly, Tamara Swaab and Ron Mangun are moving from UC Davis to the University of Birmingham after more than three decades at their previous institution. Swaab noted that while she initially came to the U.S. for its optimism toward women scientists, British institutions now offer greater certainty during a time of uncertainty in American science.
Long-Term Implications
The Trump administration maintains that recent measures are intended to restore gold-standard science by reducing bureaucracy and cutting costs while focusing on essential research. However, for researchers like Mangun, the move also represents an opportunity to engage with different scientific communities while maintaining emeritus positions in California.
