Canada Lures Dozens of US Researchers Amid Funding Cutbacks

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:39:13 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Canada’s new $362m export programme attracts 64 academics, especially from the United States, amid Trump‑era funding freezes.

Canada’s government is recruiting 64 world‑class scholars, with the majority coming from the United States, as U.S. universities grapple with federal funding cuts. A new $362 m Canadian programme offers research grants in climate, medicine and other fields, attracting scholars like Seth Guikema and Peter Caravan. U.S. officials blame political pressure for a “brain drain,” while Canadian officials emphasize the country’s welcoming environment and its rising global standing.

Canada Lures Dozens of US Researchers Amid Funding Cutbacks

The Canadian government’s new research‑support programme is pulling 64 leading scholars from around the world, including a striking 78 % from the United States, as Washington grapples with federal funding cuts and political pressure on universities.

Professor Seth Guikema will move from the University of Michigan to the University of Western Ontario as part of the package.

Under the $504 million Canadian budget – roughly $362 million USD – the programme offers grants for research in climate science, medicine, and other priority areas, giving scholars around eight years of dedicated funding.

Seth Guikema, a climate‑resilience researcher, said: "The funding environment in the US for anything related to climate and resilience has become challenging" and that he was searching for a place where he could make a realistic impact.

Other prominent scholars include Peter Caravan, who will join the University of British Columbia to research cancer detection, and Steven Lamy of the University of Southern California, who warned that the current U.S. climate “makes external offers more attractive.”

Melanie Joly said Canada was "very glad" about the influx of talent.

The move comes as the Biden administration faces criticism from the Trump regime, which has frozen many federal research grants it calls "wasteful" and has accused U.S. universities of left‑wing bias.

Canadian officials point out that while U.S. institutions remain world‑leading—MIT, Stanford, and Harvard topping the QS rankings—Canada’s rising global stature and a stable economic environment make it an attractive destination for scholars.

The trend could widen as the U.S. struggles to keep scientists home, prompting academics to evaluate futures abroad where research environments are increasingly supportive.