This a sign of the dark times in which we live & I'm not bragging about it. My team posted an open position for an industry research scientist and we got 20 times the response rate in the 1st week we normally would & the seniority of the applicants was way higher than the norm. All from academia. - ThreadSky

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social • 7 days ago

This a sign of the dark times in which we live & I'm not bragging about it.

My team posted an open position for an industry research scientist and we got 20 times the response rate in the 1st week we normally would & the seniority of the applicants was way higher than the norm.

All from academia.

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immunofever.bsky.social•7 days ago

Same. It's shocking.

laurajohansen.bsky.social•3 days ago

I concur, from a different industry in science/healthcare - the same outsized response rate for our most recent opening, where we wouldn't expect more than a few dozen applicants in "normal times".

onkelbob.bsky.social•7 days ago

And UC announced a hiring freeze last Friday...

gigiomics.bsky.social•7 days ago

I applied to a role with AZ and made the phone screen.... evidently 400+ people had applied 😮‍💨 and they were giving an initial screen to 19 of them

chasing-clarity.bsky.social•7 days ago

Universities bow to political pressure, and the people with principles walk. Not just a brain drain—it’s academia bleeding out.

rebelipar.bsky.social•7 days ago

Yeah I'm not having a good time

eternalcatwar.bsky.social•7 days ago

the job market is so fucked

skepteis.bsky.social•7 days ago

It's quite interesting I've had/have two PhD positions open and there were zero applications from NA. Do you think it's mainly senior people considering moving (internationally, intersectorially) while younger ones just drop out of science?

oliverlevine.bsky.social•7 days ago

I imagine there is a higher barrier to recruiting American PhD students than later career academics since PhDs in NL/EU typically require a master's degree but in the US (in life sciences) most don't. Although looking at your listings, goddamn if the benefits scheme isn't competitive haha.

oliverlevine.bsky.social•7 days ago

(To clarify this point: that means most American students applying to PhDs this cycle who eg had acceptances rescinded would not currently be in a position where they can pivot and apply to a PhD position in the EU.)

skepteis.bsky.social•7 days ago

Thanks for the insights, Oliver. It's true that the Master is required, but I always thought that the 4-5 year undergrads would be seen as equivalent to Bachelor + Master (but that's just based on one case I know).
What I've been wondering is whether it's also field-dependent and CS-related ...

skepteis.bsky.social•7 days ago

.. fields are still relatively safe and might even get more money given the tech-bro involvement in the reactionary mess?

oliverlevine.bsky.social•7 days ago

I can attest personally that myself and a lot of US grad students I've spoken to are feeling a lot more inclined to move overseas than we were a year ago. But it takes time for early career scientists to switch gears since we're committed for the term of our PhDs/postdoctoral positions.

oliverlevine.bsky.social•7 days ago

As far as people who would be applying to PhDs this cycle... Some acceptances rescinded, other programs are continuing on... our admissions program hasn't said anything either way. I have no clue what the next cohort of students is going to look like. Or when we'll know the full impact. :|

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social•7 days ago

I think that's it. People have extended families in the states, significant investment in their house... it's a lot to ask for later career scientists to jump countries.

skepteis.bsky.social•7 days ago

But wouldn't the lack of a house and a likely more flexible family situation make it easier for grad students and postdocs?

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social•7 days ago

Sorry, it was an incomplete reply.

I think US post-docs and research fellows, as you suggested, just aren't going to finish or pursue tenure-track roles.

We're already highly 'backed-up' with most post-docs having to take non-tenure adjunct or instructor jobs.

c0nc0rdance.bsky.social•7 days ago

Senior career people are too invested & settled, and often have kids in school that they can't bring themselves to uproot.

One of the first consequences of the 15% indirect cost will be an end to departmental new faculty packages, which could make "new PI" a veritable unicorn.

skepteis.bsky.social•6 days ago

Yeah, and these packages are (getting) less common in Europe as well. I wonder how much the culture of, let's call it national hubris, plays a role as well (and I've seen this across the rather narrow political spectrum)

skepteis.bsky.social•7 days ago

The link to the open one is here, if anyone reading this is interested ;-)
https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-student-position-in-ai-for-life-sciences-with-a-focus-on-protein-ligand-interaction-dynamics.htm

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