Energy transition scientist leaves Cambridge for Hong Kong lab amid UK funding concerns

Chen Peipei, a scientist specializing in energy transition, has left her research associate role at the University of Cambridge to establish her own laboratory at City University of Hong Kong. She cited the challenges of shrinking research funding and a complex geopolitical climate in British academia as key factors influencing her decision.

Chen was drawn to Hong Kong by a landscape perceived as more supportive of young faculty. At CityU's school of energy and environment, she gains access to necessary research budgets and PhD student recruitment quotas to build her team – opportunities she described as increasingly rare in Britain. "For scientists, having funds and a team to carry out research is hugely appealing," she stated.

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For scientists, having funds and a team to carry out research is hugely appealing.

"In Britain, a teaching position rarely comes with research start-up funds. New faculty members are mostly expected to teach, leaving little time to develop their own research," Chen explained. This contrasts with the situation in Hong Kong, where she can focus on building her research capabilities.

British universities are currently facing a financial crisis. A recent survey by Universities UK indicated that nearly one-third of responding institutions had reduced academic research activity in the past three years. Staffing costs are a primary target for savings, with 79% of universities implementing voluntary redundancies or hiring freezes over the same period. Several British universities have announced job cuts in recent months.

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In Britain, a teaching position rarely comes with research start-up funds. New faculty members are mostly expected to teach, leaving little time to develop their own research.