Following President Donald Trump’s reelection and the start of his second term in 2025, a noticeable shift is occurring within the American scientific community. Prominent researchers from top U.S. institutions are relocating to the United Kingdom, citing a lack of support for higher education and significant changes in federal science funding as primary drivers.
Policy Shifts Drive Departures
Megan Peters, a cognitive scientist at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), is among those leaving. She noted that it became quickly apparent that the new administration did not value scientific research conducted at universities. 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.
The landscape changed rapidly after Trump took office in early 2025. Grants were delayed or terminated, and government agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) were reshaped to align with White House priorities. Universities also faced scrutiny over research related to race and gender.
UK Offers Stability and Funding
Peters is moving this summer to University College London, where she will study how the brain deals with uncertainty. She was recruited by Steve Fleming, a professor at UCL’s Department of Experimental Psychology. Despite accepting a pay cut, Peters cited scientific opportunities and her partner’s ability to find work in aerospace as key factors.
Similarly, Tamara Swaab and Ron Mangun are leaving their tenured positions at UC Davis for the University of Birmingham after more than three decades. The couple studies neuroscience and neural mechanisms, respectively. They were attracted by the U.K.’s $70 million Global Talent Fund, which helps attract international researchers, as reported by NBC News.
"There are certainly opportunities that are not available to me here in the United States," said Peters regarding her new position.
- Megan Peters
A Growing Trend of Relocation
The departure of these scientists reflects a broader trend. A March 2025 survey found that 75% of U.S.-based scientists were considering leaving the country. The Trump administration maintains its measures are intended to restore "gold standard" science and reduce bureaucracy, but many researchers see instability as the result.
Rachel O’Reilly, a professor at Birmingham who helped recruit Swaab and Mangun, stated that the new funding offers certainty during uncertain times for colleagues in the U.S. While some scientists like Ron Mangun believe voters will eventually demand renewed commitment to research, many are currently prioritizing professional stability abroad.
