Psychology researchers look abroad amid U.S. funding cuts

Psychological scientists in the United States—both Americans and those here on visas—are facing unprecedented challenges to their work and livelihoods, including reduced funding, limits on academic freedom, and disruption to the academic pipeline.

“The canceling and suspending of grants and proposed cuts to agencies like the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation are a grave concern,” said Adrienne Stith, PhD, APA’s head of science, who noted that APA’s advocacy team is working hard to educate policymakers on the relevance and importance of psychological science and calling for robust support for science.

Research programs “take a very long time to build,” added Jennifer E. Lansford, PhD, director of the Center for Child and Family Policy at Duke University and former chair of the U.S. National Committee of Psychological Science, which represents the International Union of Psychological Science at the national level. “And they can be torn down very quickly and cannot be easily reassembled.”

Because of these realities, some American psychological and other social scientists are seeking or have already taken positions in other countries. For example, a survey reported in the journal Natureopens in new window found that of 1,600 American scientists and postdocs sampled, more than 75% were contemplating out-of-country moves, with most considering jobs in Europe and Canada. Clinical psychologist Kean J. Hsu, PhD, left his faculty position at Georgetown University in 2022 to take one at the National University of Singapore because of his concern about the decline of academic freedom he saw under the first Trump administration and what he expected if President Trump were to be reelected. Similarly, prominent historians Timothy Snyder, DPhil, and Marci Shore, PhD, left their positions at Yale University last year to take positions at the University of Toronto (their widely viewed New York Times video pieceopens in new window, “We Study Fascism, and We’re Leaving the U.S.,” explains their decision).

Meanwhile, faculty and students on academic visas are forgoing international travel that would normally allow them to attend conferences and work on research projects, concerned that if they leave the country they won’t be able to return. And it has become difficult, if not impossible, for foreign students to apply to U.S. psychology graduate programs because the federal government has halted new student visa interviews as it works to expand screening of applicants to include greater scrutiny of their social media accounts. A projected decline of 30 to 40% in new international student enrollment this fall—based on an analysis of dataopens in new window from SEVIS and the U.S. State Department—could contribute to a 15% drop in overall enrollment. In turn, this downturn would strip local economies of $7 billion in spending and more than 60,000 jobs.

“Historically, American universities have been considered among the best in the world,” said Lansford. “That puts us in a privileged position—we get a lot of talent from other countries that Americans benefit from. By restricting entry to American universities from people who require a visa,” she said, “it’s taking away the cream of the crop from some universities.”

While it is hard to say how this disruption will resolve, for now it means there may be something of a “brain drain,” with the United States losing U.S.-trained scientists to other countries.

Already there is a groundswell of support from the European Union (EU), which appears delighted at the prospect of welcoming American research talent. In a May 5 announcement about a program called Choose Europe,opens in new window Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, said the EU would invest 500 million euros, or about $566 million, over the next 2 years to “make Europe a magnet for researchers . . . where global talent is welcomed.”

Also in May, the European Research Council (ERC), established by the EU in 2007, announced additional matching fundsopens in new window to help first-time ERC grantees establish labs or research teams in Europe. (The ERC offers four core types of grants: starting grantsopens in new window, consolidator grantsopens in new window, and advanced grantsopens in new window for individual researchers, as well as synergy grantsopens in new window for two to four principal investigators to fund their collaborative work on ambitious research projects.)

For example, individual researchers who receive ERC advanced grants—intended for established principal investigators who seek long-term funding to pursue large-scale, innovative projects of up to 2.5 million euros (about $2.9 million)—can receive an additional sum of up to 2 million euros (about $2.3 million) for startup purposes, according to a statement by ERC President Maria Leptin. “The ERC Scientific Council raised this ‘startup’ funding to try to help researchers based in the U.S. in their current situation, but it is of course open to everyone worldwide moving to Europe,” Leptin said.

Individual EU countries are opening their doors to American researchers in other ways as well. In April, for instance, the Research Council of Norway created a $9.6 million initiativeopens in new window to make it easier to attract experienced international researchers, with language aimed at recruiting American scholars. Similarly, Aix-Marseille University in France is planning to host at least 15 American academics through its Safe Place for Scienceopens in new window program, which has already raised 15 million euros (about $17.6 million) and is seeking matching grants from the French government. (As of July, eight American scholarsopens in new window had been accepted into the program.) Meanwhile, an EU program called National and Regional Initiatives consolidates opportunities across the EU for Americans and others to tap into, including fellowships, visiting researcher programs, faculty recruitment opportunities such as tenure-track positions, research collaborations, and more (see Resources for more international job opportunities).

Several established organizations dedicated specifically to helping at-risk scholars, researchers, and academics are also helping vulnerable American researchers get practical, logistical, financial, advocacy, and employment aid in their home countries and abroad. These include the London-based Council for At-Risk Academicsopens in new window and the Scholars at Risk networkopens in new window in New York City.

Yasemin Gülsüm Acar, PhD, an American-born social psychologist and academic who taught at Özyeğin University in Istanbul, Turkey, and is now on faculty at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, said such resources can provide invaluable support. “They can help you find placements at institutions in other countries,” said Acar, who studies political activism, “and even help you gauge what countries and institutions might be good options for you, particularly for those who are in a position where they feel unsafe.” She herself received a yearlong fellowship from one of these groups when she was pushed to leave her position in Turkey after signing a peace petition supporting the Kurdish cause.

For all job seekers, Acar also recommends contacting their main scientific organizations to see if they have funding and networking support in place. That’s what she did with two of her membership organizations, the European Association of Social Psychology and the International Society of Political Psychology. “They were great at setting up pockets of money that we could access quickly,” she said. If your organization doesn’t have such a program, “work with them to get something going,” she advised.

In fact, networking in general is a vital skill to nurture during these times, said Acar. When she and her colleagues in Turkey faced crackdowns on their work, they banded together. “One of the things that was really powerful for us was relying on one another—having a network to gauge what was going on and to support each other through different parts of this process. Use your network of people; that’s what community is for,” she urged. “It helps a lot.”

For those considering moving to another country, whether temporarily or permanently, Acar recommends doing a thorough assessment of the move’s practicality. Factors to consider include how strongly one feels about staying in the United States, whether family or professional obligations would make it difficult or impossible to leave, and how flexible the research parameters are. A number of countries, including many in the Middle East, forbid or restrict research on what they consider incendiary topics such as LGBTQ+ issues, feminist ideas, or topics that could be seen as criticizing the standing government, for example. “Do you feel comfortable trying to shift into a different sort of topic? Or do you feel like you’ve been cut off at the knees and you need to find a new way forward?” Acar said.

Also look into visa requirements, which differ from country to country, advised Hsu, the American academic who moved to Singapore in 2022. Often workplaces can ease this process by helping academics apply for visas, though it’s still important to determine application deadlines and what documents you need for the purpose. More complicated is the question of whether to become a permanent resident: On the one hand, gaining that status may make it easier to bring family members other than a spouse with you; on the other hand, it may impact your compensation structure and package, Hsu said.

It also helps to learn from those who have already made such moves. When Hsu decided to leave the United States, for instance, he did a lot of homework first. In general, he knew he wanted a position in a cosmopolitan setting, at a relatively respected university—a factor others advised would be important if he wanted to move back to the United States in the future—and an institution with a funding environment that would support his area of study—cognitive processes as they relate to depression and anxiety. Singapore, which he had visited a decade prior, and the National University of Singapore, checked those boxes. “I’d previously only been in Singapore for 2 or 3 days, but I knew it was a great city in terms of food, ease of travel, great public transportation, and great safety,” he said. “And people there primarily spoke English, and English is the teaching language as well.”

He recommends that psychologists considering moves to other countries take a similar tack. “Think about the type of work you do and how the context supports it, and what sort of funding support you need,” he advised. For example, it may be extremely important for some researchers to choose institutions or countries that openly prize academic freedom. While he has had only positive experiences studying and teaching in his topic area, researchers investigating topics like health disparities among marginalized communities might have more difficulty in Singapore, where racial harmony is a politicized value.

Similarly, those studying LGBTQ+ issues are likely to find a welcome mat and funding in some countries more than others, according to the migration consultancy firm Global Citizen Solutions. Other considerations are whether an institution provides startup funds and whether a program is a doctoral-level program, since that will determine the pool of students who will be part of your research team.

There are other practical issues to consider, as well, said social psychologist Kyle Msall, PhD, who earned his doctorate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington, D.C., and is now an associate professor of psychology at Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates. Researchers may need to ascertain whether they are willing to learn at least some of a country’s language and how far from the United States they are comfortable living, since international travel can be cumbersome. It’s also important to explore practical issues related to banking, health care, and housing, he said.

Once you’ve chosen a given location, don’t pass immediate judgment if some aspects are unfamiliar or uncomfortable, Msall added. Start networking as soon as possible, which will help you build relationships and friendships. In his case, joining sports groups and tapping groups like MeetUp and InterNations helped him bond with others and feel less alone. “Give yourself at least 6 months in a new place before you decide whether or not it is for you,” he said.