Funding Cuts and the Future of University Research
Do you really need that PhD, anyway?
Release Date: 04/28/2025
In this inaugural episode, Professors Darren Lipomi and Marc Porosoff from the University of Rochester’s Department of Chemical Engineering dive deep into the alarming cuts to federal grants for science and engineering research. With funding uncertainty looming, they reflect on the immediate and long-term implications on research programs, university finances, student training, and the broader scientific workforce.
The discussion pulls no punches: from canceled grants and delayed concept reviews to broader misunderstandings about university overhead rates and how research budgets actually work. They examine how funding challenges could reshape PhD education, the relationship between academia and industry, and even the traditional model of university prestige built on research strength.
With a blend of serious analysis and candid humor, Darren and Marc paint a vivid picture of an academic landscape facing unprecedented pressures, and consider how the system might adapt in the years to come.
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/RLVWA3lqYPA?si=PU6gu-N74lNbPyWW