PhD students at the University of Arizona are waiting for answers about the impacts of an executive order that could result in $40 million in annual losses for research-support funds to the school.

When a student starts a Ph.D. program, their research is typically funded through research-related grants, fellowships and assistantships.

But with the Trump administration’s recent executive order freezing most of the National Institutes of Health’s $47 billion budget and capping indirect costs, many students are left wondering what this means for their research.

On Feb. 11, the UA sent an email to graduate researchers saying that the university conducts about $165 million in NIH-funded research and the change could result in an annual loss of $40.5 million in funds.

According to one graduate research assistant, who asked to remain anonymous, the situation is concerning and the reach could be widespread — not just because of the funding loss, but also the 15% cap on indirect costs, which include things required to keep a lab up and running such as lights, lab supplies, payroll and administrative support.

“(It) would really start to limit things,” the student said of the funding cuts.

The graduate assistant said her lab has not yet been affected by funding cuts but has no idea when or if it could be impacted. She said there has been no communication, support or reassurance from the university’s Office of Research, Innovation and Impact.

“That is just the big contributor to the uncertainty that so many students are feeling right now,” she said. “There really is no plan for this, and there is no system in place to protect anything from this.”

The Trump administration signed another executive order ending government support — including funding by the NIH and National Science Foundation — for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

A federal judge granted an injunction blocking the funding withdrawal, saying it likely violates free-speech rights, with the case set to play out in court.

"As a public institution, we will continue to adhere to all applicable laws at the local, state and federal levels while continuing to uphold our commitment to fostering a campus environment where everyone can thrive as we advance our academic, research and service missions,” said UA spokesman Mitch Zak.

Still, students remain concerned.

The Ph.D. student who spoke with Tucson Spotlight works in biomedical engineering, with her lab specializing in creating endoscopes to detect cancers typically found in women.

“In general, our lab is very interested in women’s health,” she said. “That is definitely why (the order involving DEI-related programs is) pretty applicable to us.”

The student called the threat of cuts to funding and resources in health research and DEI initiatives scary and disheartening.

“A lot of the funding that I have gotten in the past and a lot of the experiences that I have been able to have, have been through programs that are specifically targeted towards increasing the number of underrepresented groups in science,” she said.

Despite recent efforts to increase the representation of women in STEM-related careers, they still make up just 35% of the workforce, according to the National Girls Collaborative Project.

Career opportunities in STEM for women of color are even more scarce, with Black, Hispanic and Indigenous women making up a combiined (cq??)  10% of the workforce. 

The student said that in addition to opening doors for women, DEI initiatives in science broaden the reach and impact of health research.

“Having diversity in researchers leads to diversity in the problems that are being addressed,” she said.

She said this lack of diversity in science is a driving force behind the lack of health research around underrepresented groups.

“That’s why representation matters,” she said. “If you look around and you don’t see anyone that looks like you, you’re going to feel like you don’t belong there.”

More than anything, she said she’s worried about what this could mean for the next generation.

“I’s really going to matter what the next administration cares about,” she said. “I think that is going to have the biggest impact on how we can start to move forward and repair it.”

As the first person in her family to attend graduate school, the student said she had no idea what to do or expect but received strong support from the NIH’s two-year Maximizing Access to Research Careers program.

The program is designed to help undergraduate students from underrepresented groups pursue careers in biomedical research.

The student said the program provided assistance in writing her personal statement, prepared her for graduate school interviews, allowed her to gain experience working in a research lab, covered her tuition and paid a monthly stipend for living expenses.

“If all these programs are suddenly going to be stopped, I think the biggest impact is that it’s going to have a decrease in the number of students like me who make it to grad school, who make it to research careers,” she said.

The February email from UA to graduate researchers said the school’s Office of Research, Innovation and Impact will continue to provide updates and help navigate changes.

“We are proud of the scholars, staff and students whose work drives innovation and discovery,” said UA spokesman Zak. “We will continue to champion their work to help address global challenges.”

The student said she’d like to see UA leaders create a concrete plan to help the campus community navigate this uncertainty as their graduation dates draw near.

“I just hope that through all of this, we as students could feel like they’re on our side,” she said.

Arilynn Hyatt is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at arilynndhyatt@arizona.edu.

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