katie, phd!

@sciencekatie.bsky.social

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neuroscience phd | first-gen college grad

And in the longer term, people will stop pursuing PhDs and other research-based degrees or positions. Universities research revenue will plummet, which they will have to make up for. This could lead to tuition increases. Education in the US will become increasingly expensive, and therefore increasingly inaccessible. Great scientists will migrate away from the US, which will no longer be the research capital of the world.
This change will devastate biomedical research in the United States of America.
While it is difficult to quantify exactly who is spending the indirect costs, and how they contribute to research, everyone agrees that they serve an essential purpose: allowing researchers to focus on their research, because the institution will handle the rest. Paying the water bill means I can dilute my samples, AND wash my hands in the bathroom. Paying for electricity means I can power the microscope, AND the kettle in the kitchenette. Paying the custodial staff helps keep everyone's research area clean and safe.
What do NIH funds pay for? 1. Direct costs - a portion of the money goes to the applicant, called the Principal Investigator, for costs directly associated with performing the research. For example, buying equipment, purchasing reagents, traveling to conferences, paying publishing fees. 2. Indirect costs - another portion goes to the institution, to cover expenses not directly related to the proposed research, yet still crucial to getting the work done. For example, paying electricity bills, controlled substances regulation, safety compliance, hazardous chemical management, equipment maintenance.