NSF half reduced the prestigious doctoral scholarships

Each April, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) offers around 2,000 promising young researchers to support their career in science. Yesterday, the agency, which is a main funder of fundamental science, announced that it only grants 1,000 scholarships – reducing the cohort by half.

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The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) selectively offers five -year prices to students who pursue master’s degrees and doctorate in science. About 16% of the more than 13,000 candidates generally succeed. Scholarship holders receive an annual allowance of US $ 37,000 for three years, plus coverage of their tuition fees. The GRFP is one of the oldest programs to fill the world pipeline of scientific talents: since 1952, it has financed more than 75,000 young researchers. The objective of the program, according to his website before the American president, Donald Trump, took office, was to “guarantee the quality, vitality and diversity of scientific and engineering workforce”. A New version of the website Replaces “diversity” – a priority that the Trump administration sought to eradicate – by “strength”.

This GRFP cup is “a sorrow”, explains Rob Denton, biologist at Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana, who previously examined the applications of the GRFP. Many candidates are vulnerable because they simply start their career, he says, and receive this award “could make the difference between them stay in science or find another career”.

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GRFP cuts add to Foremen from the Face that the Trump administration aroused for young scientists. Under Trump, American financing agencies have reduced active research subsidies – many of them of subsidy training For students and post -doctoral students – as the United States government seeks to reduce its expenses. In response to the uncertainty of funding, certain universities have Reduced doctoral admissionsAnd the National Institutes of Health, the largest biomedical research fund in the world, also canceled a summer program for undergraduate students.

The NSF’s ability to administer awards could soon be reduced – a possible reason to reduce scholarships. The Washington Post reported In March, an internal document from the White House indicated that the agency would soon be faced with a 28% reduction in its workforce. But cutting the GRFP to save money is “bone”, explains Kenny Evans, specialist in scientific policy at Rice University in Houston, Texas. “GRFP are one of the most profitable means for NSF to give money,” he says, because the result is a young scientist formed and promising and he is relatively inexpensive.

An NSF spokesperson refused to comment on the GRFP cuts, but said the agency is committed to preserving funding at the levels of the new and existing GRFP. “A subsequent announcement of additional scholarship holders is possible, subject to future considerations of resources,” also noted the spokesperson.

Ambiguity of application

The sections on the program mark a sharp decline compared to a record of 2,555 scholarship offers in 2023. For 15 years, the number of scientists selected for scholarships has remained relatively stable; The last time the NSF made less than 1,000 offers was in 2008 (see “Early Career Couts”).

In addition to the 1,000 scholarship offers this year, the NSF also granted a record of 3,018 candidates for honorable mentions – a price that does not provide funding, but that young researchers can put their CVS to increase their position. The high number of honorable mentions is a sign that the number of worthy candidates far exceeding the number of scholarships that could be awarded, says Evans.