U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan met with campus researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Milwaukee last week to discuss how to remove obstacles faced by young researchers.
People who don’t have a lot of experience in doing research at universities also face problems getting federal grants to work on their ideas.
Tarin Bigley is one such young researcher. He studies infectious disease at UW-Milwaukee and has finished his graduate studies, and said that in the future, he hopes to both see patients and do research. But Bigley said he’s concerned about getting funding from the National Institutes of Health.
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“What should be looked at by Congress, by our government, is more long-term investment to science,” said Bigley. “Right now, it’s year to year and we just don’t have an idea.”
A bill in Congress introduced by Baldwin and Pocan aims to help young scientists through mentorship and programs designed to increase their chances of getting federal grant money.
L:imited federal funds often go to more experienced scientists. Baldwin said the average age when a researcher gets their first grant has risen over the years and is now up to age 42.
This bill was first introduced last year but didn’t go anywhere. Baldwin and Pocan said investing in science is important to the country’s long-term economic growth.
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