The Science Coalition was pleased to recently host “Building the U.S. Research Workforce: The Role of Federal Research Investment,” which brought together researchers at all stages of their professions to discuss how federal research investment lays the foundation for a STEM career while contributing to U.S. GDP and building our nation’s innovation capacity.

Speakers included:

  • Kim Holloway, Vice Provost for Research Development at Northeastern University
  • Prasant Mohapatra, Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Davis
  • Alex de Verteuil, PhD, Project Manager Team Lead, Abcam, University of Oregon
  • Adam Knier, Graduate Student, Marquette University
  • Reba Bandyopadhyay, President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (moderator)

“Funding is a huge carrot [when it comes to increasing diversity in the STEM workforce]. The National Science Foundation has really been at the forefront of funding tied into diversity, equity, and inclusion… We have to put our money where our mouth is and take these efforts seriously.” – Dr. Kim Holloway, Vice Provost of Research, Northeastern University

“The research funded by federal agencies has a tremendous impact on the economy of the nation. In addition to innovative solutions and products, federal research helps in creating a very important and unique category of workforce that is unparalleled anywhere in the world. The workforce developed through research has a cascading impact on the national economy and the advances all over the world.” – Dr. Prasant Mohapatra, Vice Chancellor for Research, UC Davis

“There haven’t been very many people that look like me that have even gotten to the point that I’ve gotten to and then been able to follow through and finish… We need people to get on the floor and do the work and continue to do it to allow [research] to be [a] sustainable [career pathway] and that doesn’t happen without funding.” – Alex de Verteuil, PhD, Project Manager Team Lead, Abcam, University of Oregon

“[As a graduate student at Marquette University], I get to have strong mentorship, not just because my [principal investigator] is an amazing scientist, but because being funded gives her the capacity and the time to spend time training me… Being successful in science requires the right [mentors] to push you along.” – Adam Knier, Graduate Student, Marquette University

Watch their entire conversation below.