There has been a lot of talk about funding science in recent months. As a scientist, I wanted to share the impact and my experience of having my research funded by the government. I completed all my post-secondary education in Canada. My PhD research as well as my training post-PhD (postdoctoral training) was funded by the Canadian government. In 2011, I received a funding from the province of Quebec in Canada to do research in Germany. Finally, I moved to the US to start my independent position and open the Jadavji Laboratory. In the US we have been funded by the American Heart Association, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, and the Arizona State Government. In 2025 my lab obtained funding from the US federal government.
I started my research journey young. I was an undergraduate (first generation) learning the academic system. I knew I loved to learn, and science was cool, so I moved to college right after high school graduation. I paid for all my university education, through working, savings, scholarships and some student loans. As a Neuroscience undergraduate student, I received small grants that let me work in the lab. Additionally, I was also fortunate enough to start in a lab that was able to pay me for 10 hours a week of work, this paid my rent and groceries. I remember when I was completing a master’s degree, I needed to take a loan out to buy a laptop to help me do my research. In 2009, within the first year of starting my PhD, I was awarded a CIHR Charles Banting and Charles Best Doctoral Award as well as the Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Sante (FRSQ) Doctoral Award. The financial support I received to conduct research from the Canadian government (paid by taxpayers) helped me focus on my research training. I did not have to worry about paying rent, transportation costs, or buying food. I even had funds to travel to scientific meetings and complete training outside my institution – this opened many doors for me. During my post-PhD training (postdoctoral fellowship) I was again funded to by the Canadian government. I was able to live in Germany for 2 years and gain many valuable skills that have helped me become the scientist I am today. Once I returned to Canada I was funded by the National Science & Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Council of Ontario Universities.
Since moving to the US and starting my independent position, I moved my laboratory to Southern Illinois University, which is defined as research intensive (R1) institution. It has been a good move in terms of growing my research program. Within the first year of starting I submitted 24 grant applications and 3 have been funded (~12.5 % success rate). I will have to admit I am still honing in my grant writing skills, but I have found that writing grants and getting feedback from peers and reviewers is vital to developing this skill. It also important in learning the system of grant funding and all the other stuff that goes into submitting a grant. Some may read this and think I am overloading the system and making peer reviewers do work for me. I don’t think I am. I am careful to submit and always get feedback from peers, I also peer review grants myself. Getting eyes on grants and feedback is so vital for growth as a scientist!
The funds my laboratory has obtained recently from the US government will allow to me hire students in my lab to assist with completing the work we have proposed. Using funds from the grants I obtained, I will be able to pay them for their time. I see two big benefits here, the first is training the future generation of scientists and the second is that financial compensation will help these students in several ways. These students will learn many valuable skills in the lab that will help them with their current studies as well as their future careers. Retention also increased when undergraduate students engage in research. The second benefit is that students will be able to use the funds to pay for food, etc. and hopefully reduce their student loan amounts.
Each grant that I obtained came to the university indirect funds. These funds will go to the university to assist with the research maintenance of infrastructure. This can include paying research support staff, as well as people who help submit grants, facility maintenance and upgrades. I recently saw a report that stated for every $1.00 NIH awards there is a return of $2.56. To me this statement sums it all up; research is vital for economic growth. I have worked both in Canada and the US. I would say this is true in both countries, as well as others.
My career as a scientist has benefited from government funding and I am grateful! I hope to pay it forward to students and future trainees in my lab.
Through my scientific training, I think that my contributions to the scientific literature are valuable and provide opportunities to increase care of stroke patients.