A way to break out of the pyramid scheme

I was going to write something about the latest analysis of NIH funding in Science, but DrugMonkey did the work for me so go read his post. The bottom line is that NIH funding goes through boom-bust cycles that cause instability throughout the biomedical fields. In boom times the biomedical research fields recruit lots of grad students and postdocs (many of these recruits being foreign), after all the PIs need the work force and they now have funds to pay them. Then when these junior scientists go looking for their own lab and their first R01, the lack of funds forces many out of academia. To prevent this scenario from happening the NIH would need a 6% annual increase, which in all practical terms is impossible. Michael S. Teitelbaum calls this a "positive-feedback loop", but I tend to think of it as a pyramid scheme. And recently the NIH has been getting a whole lot less then a 6% increase - it's been flat. You can imagine the consequences.

One obvious way to prevent such pyramid schemes is to stop the flow of postdocs going up by providing them with career paths at the postdoc level. The result - fewer PIs, more bench scientists, more stability for junior scientists.

Interestingly, DrugMonkey touched upon an idea that I think is worthwhile pursuing - grants for career bench scientists. Specifically he points to K05 grants. These are given out to senior PIs so they can have "protected time" from institutional obligations and instead focus on they research and mentoring. Here's what DrugMonkey thinks:

Suppose something like this were made available for career Ph.D. scientists as essentially a fellowship. Without any requirement for a professorial appointment and minimal actual research component. The important point being that it is applied for, awarded to and evaluated for renewal by the career scientist with every expectation that this is a career award. There would be details of course. You'd have to have a host lab at most times- but allow for transition if one lab loses grant support or something. Nice and easy for the supported career scientist to find a new lab, don't you think? "Hey, PI Smith, I have my salary supported and I'd like to come play in your lab..." would go over quite nicely. Progress could be evaluated just as with any other award, keeping the pressure on for the individual to publish.

Yes, that would be good start.

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