Biophysical Society Bulletin | February 2024

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The new data show that the number of O-1A visas awarded in the first year of the revised guidance jumped by almost 30%, to 4,570, and held steady in fiscal year 2023, which ended on September 30. Similarly, the number of STEM EB-2 visas approved in 2022 after a “national interest” waiver shot up by 55% compared with 2021, to 70,240, and stayed at that level in 2023. As established in 1990, only 140,000 employment-based green cards are to be issued annually with no more than 7% going to citizens of any one country. This creates exceeding ly long wait periods for countries that graduate significant numbers of STEM professionals, such as China and India. While the revised guidance does not change the caps to em ployment-based green cards, it has clarified a lot of ambiguity surrounding the metrics used to evaluate applications. While O-1A visas are not capped, these visas were not frequently used by STEM professionals due to a lack of clarity on metrics and criteria used for evaluation. The 2022 guidance provided a list of eight criteria—including awards, peer-reviewed publications, and reviewing the work of other scientists—and stipulated that applicants need to satisfy at least three of them. The guidance changes for EB-2 visas are designed for those with advanced STEM degrees seeking the national interest waiver. Prior to the guidance adjustment, the standard for determining whether the labor-force require ments could be waived was vague and time consuming. The new guidance now provides specific criteria, closely tracked to the O-1A visas, and also allows a scientist to sponsor them selves. Around the World South Korean Scientists Advocate for Solution to Proposed Research Cuts In August, the South Korean government proposed a cut of more than 10% to research and development funding, includ ing for basic science, to refocus funding efforts to promising

fields and offset budget deficits. Following backlash from re searchers and focused advocacy efforts over several months, a compromise was reached to reduce cuts to research funding and to provide a small boost to basic research. Research and development will still face an overall spending drop of 8%, to the equivalent of approximately $21 billion, while increasing basic research by just under 2%, to $2 billion. This change marks the first reduction in research budgets in the country in 33 years. Concerns remain for early-career researchers at regional universities, who saw an approximately $52 million program scrapped. Researchers are also awaiting details of planned cuts to funding for large top-down programs that support research at national institutes—such as efforts to study Alzheimer’s disease and specific infectious diseases. Sub sidies for private sector research will also drop. In addition, South Korea will launch its own version of the U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), with an initial investment equivalent to approximately $36 million. Macron Releases Plan for Comprehensive Research Overhaul In mid-December, French President Emmanuel Macron un veiled a dramatic plan to overhaul France’s research commu nity. The Macron plan is intended to be implemented in the next 18 months; however, while changes are being welcomed within the scientific community, the vagueness surrounding the roadmap leaves many questions unanswered. Public sector researchers have expressed concerns over whether their employment could be transferred to universi ties, which will gain greater powers to manage joint research labs. Questions have been raised about the remit of one of the larger initiatives—the creation of the Presidential Science Council, a 12-member group of prominent French research ers, which remains undefined. While Macron dedicated €1 billion from existing pots of money toward the reforms, the question remains whether there is sufficient funding to im plement them.

The median annual wage for biochemists and biophysicists in the United States was $103,810 in May 2022. Source: Board of Labor Statistics. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Biochemists and Biophysicists, at https:/ www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists. htm (visited December 31, 2023).

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February 2024

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