Paul Smaglik writes on Nature Network’s NatureJobs careers advice forum:

Taking longer in grad school? Undergoing multiple postdocs? Waiting for independent-investigator status?

“Naturejobs diagnosed these symptoms four years ago and prescribed some solutions. But we’re seeing signs that the maladies hampering young scientists’ career progression might be getting worse. One underlying cause? The US National Institutes of Health has caught the budget-crunch bug since then. Funding has been flat the past five years. This chronic condition hits young scientists hardest. Over that time, new faculty have seen their grant success rates drops and the age to independence increase. Grant renewals have also been harder to come by over that time period—especially for younger faculty. Now the NIH has frozen postdoc stipend levels; for fellows, this is like coming down with a stomach flu when they already have a cold. I’m loathe to just point out a problem, without pointing to any solution. But I’d like to hear the health of your career at this stage. Is your career feeling under the funding weather? Or are you budgetarily healthy? Please let us know. And I’ll soon follow up with some bright spots and ways to boost your career’s immune system.”

Please join Paul at the Nature Network forum, and let him know your views.