Scientists’ Research Environment

Section Overview

In this section, we asked questions regarding recent federal policy changes and administrative actions that may have affected scientists’ research environment, including those related to thier lab, team or university since January 2025.

Question

Findings:

Over 81% of academic scientists responded that a student or postdoc in their lab or research team has experienced heightened concern about job prospects since January 2025.

Additionally, over half (56%) reported student or postdoc concerns about deportation, while 45% reported student and postdoc concerns about cancellation or delay of research activities.

One in six academic scientists (17%) reported delays in student graduation since January 2025.

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Question 

Findings:

Scientists have reported intentionally adjusting their work activities since January 2025. Over half have edited keywords in research proposals (55%), and large percentages have reframed research topics (47%) or cautioned others about public expression (42%).

Additionally, one in three respondents reported abandoning research plans on one or more topics, while nearly one in four has adjusted their findings or language in research reports to address possible negative professional consequences.

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Question

Findings:

The majority (46%) of the scientists reported being involved in research projects related to Computer Information Science and Computer Engineering since January 2025. 

Category information:

• Computer, information science, and computer engineering include areas of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and High-performance computing; 
• Life Science includes areas of Biotechnology, Translational research, Vaccine efficacy,  and Gain-of-function research;
• Equity includes areas of Gender diversity or identity, Health equity, and Racial or ethnic diversity or identity;
• Disaster and security include areas of Disaster Prevention and National Security.

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Question

Findings:

Since January 2025, almost two-thirds of scientists (63%) reported that their lab or research team has warned team members about international travel risks following policy changes made by the current administration in Washington.

Nearly half of scientists (49%) reported that their lab or research team prepared or advised students to seek jobs outside the U.S. job market.

One in five (20%) academic scientists reported that their lab or research team has laid off technical staff since January 2025.

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Question

A majority of academic scientists reported that since January 2025, their university has:

• rebranded DEI programs (73%);
• issued one or more public statements addressing policy changes (68%); and
• ended one or more DEI programs (56%).

Over one-quarter indicated that their university had filed legal challenges against federal policies (31%) or revised student admissions processes (27%) since January 2025.

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Question

Findings:

About six in ten scientists (59%) reported that their university communicated frequently about politically sensitive policy changes since January 2025. Most of these responses fell in the “somewhat frequently” category (43%), while 16% reported very or extremely frequent communication. 

About 35% reported communication was not very frequent, and 2% reported no communication at all. 3% of respondents reported there was no official policy changes made.

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