With ongoing uncertainty in government funding, Iowa State researchers across many fields face increasing anxiety about their projects’ future.
The unpredictability of grant installments and fluctuating budgets have left many scrambling to secure financial stability for their work.
“With everything happening right now, I can’t even tell you what’s gonna happen in three weeks from now,” Matthew Wetstein, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said. “I’m genuinely worried about receiving the next installment of promised grant money we count on to pay graduate and postdoc salaries.”
The funding struggles affect not only researchers but also graduate students and postdoctoral scholars who depend on stable financial support.
Government research agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) continue to face budget fluctuations and have seen many grants cancelled from the Department of Government Efficiency, spearheaded by Elon Musk.
“The uncertainty is causing a lot of anxiety among researchers, making it difficult to plan and sustain important projects at the same level as before,” said Geetu Tuteja, a professor in the genetics, development and cell biology department.
Early-career scientists and graduate students are particularly vulnerable to these funding shortages. Without grants or fellowships, many young researchers are struggling to continue their work.
The Iowa State Department of Research declined to comment to the Daily, but provided a statement to the Iowa State community in February.
“Despite our vigilance, communications from our federal agencies have been very limited, and I empathize with how anxious the campus is about updated information,” Peter Dorhout, vice president of the Department of Research, stated. “We have been working behind the scenes to glean additional guidance and insight that may inform us all.”
Dorhout added that NIH grants account for roughly 10% of the university’s total extramural research last year and the university is continuing to submit proposals to the NIH.
“In FY24, NIH accounted for $31 million in federal research grant expenditures,” Dorhout stated. “I remain hopeful when I hear of ongoing support for a number of federal funding priorities that align with many of our strengths at ISU.”
University spokesperson Angie Hunt also declined to comment, but in a letter to the university, President Wendy Wintersteen said the potential reductions in federal research funding would have a “significant impact here at Iowa State and on campuses across the nation.”
“Please know we understand your concerns and your anxiety and are doing all we can to ensure Iowa State University continues as a national research leader,” President Wintersteen stated. “We appreciate your commitment to our mission of creating, sharing and applying knowledge for the benefit of our students, our state and the world.”
In a database compiled by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), over a dozen Iowa State grants have been flagged for review for being “woke DEI grants.” Around a dozen more were also flagged at the University of Iowa.
