“Trump’s Anti-DEI Order Sparks Funding Turmoil for Philadelphia Scientists: What You Need to Know”

Christopher Large is a scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, working on how DNA evolves over time. He’s currently on a postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Large points out that research jobs at universities are already hard to find. The current situation could push many scientists to look for opportunities outside the U.S., possibly in Europe.

“Getting a faculty position is a tough road for anyone with a PhD,” Large explains. “The ongoing chaos might make these positions even rarer, and many American postdocs will think about moving abroad.”

Bezia Lemma, another postdoctoral researcher, is facing similar challenges at Princeton University. Instead of focusing entirely on his research about how baby organisms develop, he spent a week dealing with the implications of a controversial executive order. “It’s frustrating,” he says. “I want to dive into my work, especially since I have a newborn at home. But I can’t ignore these issues.”

Lemma stresses that funding fluctuations can have serious effects on young researchers like him. Although the NSF has reinstated access to funding, it is still reviewing all grants to ensure compliance with the new rules. Lemma is left uncertain about how long this review process will take.

“It feels like these decisions are slowing down American scientific progress,” he adds. “While we’re worried about job security, researchers in other countries are moving forward with their projects.”

Many scientists are concerned about how the executive order will affect research, especially when U.S. law mandates the NSF to consider how projects expand participation among underrepresented groups. For decades, NSF has focused on the broader impacts of research, which promotes diversity in science.

Cultural anthropologist Julia Barnes, affiliated with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, argues that this new scrutiny could harm anthropology. “Our field aims to understand and embrace cultural differences,” she explains. “If key terms related to diversity are flagged in grant reviews, it may undermine the very essence of what we study.”

Barnes believes that science should benefit everyone and that researchers should explore ways to include diverse perspectives. However, she fears that recent developments suggest a shift away from that goal.