Dear PhD students, PDRAs and early career researchers,

You may be aware of a recent UKRI funding restructure announcement (there is a discussion here: https://www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/analysis-and-publications/detail/what-is-happening-with-ukri-funding-and-the-stfc-cuts/) . In STFC-funded science,  particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics are facing 30% cuts to research areas. This is obviously a disaster and will impact the future careers of many of you.

At the same time, Ian Chapman (chief of UKRI) said in the Science, Innovation, and Technology Select Committee that the FLF programme is a cornerstone of the UKRI strategy. Therefore, there is an open letter from early career researchers to be sent to Lord Patrick Vallance (Minister of State for Science, Innovation, Research, and Nuclear), Liz Kendall (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology), Dame Chi Onwurah (Chair of the UK House of Commons Science, Innovation, and Technology Select Committee), and Professor Sir Ian Chapman (head of UKRI) here: https://ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io/index.html

I would recommend that you read the letter and sign if you support it, and please also share widely with your networks of other Early Career Researchers. Support from ECR’s in non-STFC areas affirming that this reorganisation will be damaging to UK science would be particularly valuable.