Julia Van Etten, a biologist, cannot access her postdoctoral research grant from the NSF due to a sudden funding freeze affecting currently awarded grants. This decision jeopardizes her ability to pay basic living expenses, reflecting a broader issue where many scientists live paycheck to paycheck. The NSF's funding freeze stems from orders concerning diversity and inclusion efforts contradicting its congressional mandate. Despite the White House's reversal of a funding pause, NSF persists in the freeze, posing significant challenges in balancing compliance with ongoing grant activities and its mission to broaden participation in science.
"Scientists at this career stage are not paid that well, so we all kind of live somewhat paycheck to paycheck," she says. "I will be unable to pay my bills this month if they don't resolve this soon."
"All NSF grantees must comply with these executive orders by ceasing all non-compliant grant and award activities," said an NSF statement. "In particular this may include grant activity that uses or promotes the use of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility principles and frameworks."
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