Canadian universities are actively recruiting American academics, a trend highlighted by the move of Talia Mae Bettcher, a transgender philosophy professor from California State University, to the University of Waterloo. Bettcher cited safety concerns and the Trump administration's categorization of her field as "ideological" as reasons for her decision to return to her native Canada.

Bettcher will be involved in a $541 million Canadian research funding project, overseeing PhD students in transgender philosophy and continuing research into gender-based and transphobic violence. This initiative aims to attract top global researchers. Canada is investing $1.7 billion over 12 years into this program, according to reports.

IMAGE1

Other notable academics making the move include Peter Caravan, a radiology professor from Harvard Medical School heading to the University of British Columbia (UBC), and Jon Wakefield, a biostatistics professor from the University of Washington, also joining UBC. These academics will continue their research in areas such as personalized medicine and the impact of geography on health inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

IMAGE7 Canada has also poached Harvard Medical School's Peter Caravan IMAGE8 University of Washington biostatistics professor Jon Wakefield is among the 64 other academics from around the world moving

Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that the country is "doubling down" on science, aiming to attract top talent to foster breakthroughs and enhance Canada's global standing in science and innovation. She contrasted this approach with other nations that are reportedly turning away from scientific investment.

IMAGE4 Canadian Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the North American country was 'doubling down' on science while others are turning away from it

Despite the departures, the White House maintains a stance of indifference. Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told the Daily Mail that President Trump is committed to maintaining American leadership in scientific innovation by funding "real science." She criticized past federal grant distributions, suggesting they were often funneled into "politicized research" with little taxpayer accountability.

IMAGE3 The White House isn't fazed by the academics leaving, White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told the Daily Mail. 'President Trump is committed to keeping America the world leader in scientific innovation, and that means funding real science,' she said

This situation unfolds against a backdrop of recent funding shifts within the Trump administration. Federal grants, including numerous awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2025, have been rolled back, particularly for research deemed politically sensitive. In June 2026, a five-year grant for research on how racial discrimination affects brain activity was cut, with researchers informed that the work was not aligned with NIH priorities.

In April 2025, Harvard University sued the Trump administration after it froze $2.6 billion in funding, alleging the university allowed antisemitism on campus. A federal judge later dismissed the antisemitism lawsuit, and most of Harvard's grants have since been restored.

IMAGE2 Canada, which is run by Mark Carney, is funneling $1.7 billion into the program over 12 years. The program is designated to attract top researchers from around the world