Invited Talk: Mary Feeney

Dr. Mary K. Feeney will present results from a national survey of academic scientists on perceptions of US immigration policies and intention to leave the US. Her presentation will highlight trends in US immigration policy relevant to scientists studying in the US and policy responses to these challenges. Drawing from a recent publication, Dr. Feeney will note how an increased focus on national security and the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in universities experiencing declines in international student applications, constraints on international scholar employment, and complications facilitating international research collaborations.



Contemporary social science and policy research demonstrates that scientist mobility is critical for science education, training, competitiveness, collaboration, and innovation. Using a representative sample of US-born and foreign-born scientists in three STEM fields, Feeney et al (2023) explore how recent visa and immigration policies have shaped research collaborations, work with students and postdoctoral scholars, and intentions to leave. Feeney will present results on disruptions from visa and immigration policies and negative effects on recruitment and retention of international trainees. She will discuss how immigration policies negatively impact US higher education and increase intentions to leave the US and what these trends mean for US universities and national innovation competitiveness.