Extremely proud to be part of the UK’s national centre for Particle Physics Phenomenology. The UK is a world leader in particle physics: fundamental science that drives future growth. It’s difficult to see why this strength is now being cut so severely by @ukri.org

We’re home to the UK’s national particle phenomenology centre, playing a key role in understanding the forces and particles shaping our Universe 👉 www.ippp.dur.ac.uk Our Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology is primarily funded by @ukri.org/Science and Technology Facilities Council.

It's hard to see how the statements from grant panels chairs can be misinterpreted More on the letter from Vallance and Chapman here by @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

There seem to be some inconsistencies between what Patrick Vallance and Ian Chapman wrote about #STFC funded postdoc numbers in their letter to the Commons science committee and recent reports from the chairs of STFC's own grant panels 🧵

Great week lecturing on Hamiltonian simulation with quantum computers + quantum machine learning in Würzburg. A very beautiful city!

This is pure 1984: Lord Vallance promises that there will be no reduction in UK particle theory postdoc numbers from ~20 per year. The actual number awarded in the last round in 2022 was 58. committees.parliament.uk/publications...

In a letter to @chionwurah.bsky.social the Science Minister states: "~20 particle physics theory post-doctoral researchers [are] funded by UKRI each year." That’s not typical; that’s the post-cut baseline from 2026. The previous cycle supported ~60. Framing this as “normal” obscures a ~70% cut.

More correspondence from Chair to Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear and Chief Executive for UKRI, re: Scientific research funding committees.parliament.uk/committee/13...

What is the impact of cuts to physics? Read more here ⬇️ www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

Another article I was involved in about the scale of UK cuts, even Edward Witten agrees things are bad. Many thanks to Brian Cox for his support.

Fantastic long read from @francesjones.bsky.social on why the physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’. Shrinking the UK's pool of experts, particularly early career researchers, will 'hurt UK industry over the long term'. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Postdoc time funded on STFC theory grants falls by 67 per cent Researcher warns reductions for particle physics grants are “baked in” for the next four years www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

The situation is stark: ~70% cuts to theoretical particle physics PDRAs will be catastrophic. The cuts are effectively baked in for the next four years unless additional funding is brought in to stabilise the situation. This will translate directly into severe early-career attrition.

It looks like the disaster unfolding with @ukri.org is being noticed over on the other site.

A brilliant long piece by @francesjones.bsky.social covering the cuts to fundamental science. The cuts are a structural hit to the research pipeline. The short-term thinking behind it is hard to understand. If the pipeline is allowed to collapse, it is not something that can be rebuilt quickly.

NEW: Feature by me on Physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’ Letters last March were sent to project leaders informing them that their funding would not be renewed. “We’re losing people”, including postdoctoral researchers. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Another banger from @francesjones.bsky.social in @resprofnews.bsky.social on the @ukri.org PPAN situation. “The uncertainties around career progression often drive early career researchers abroad or out of research completely” www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

In the absence of a response from @ukri.org to Dame @chionwurah.bsky.social and the Select Committee, two letters to the Committee have been published today and are worth a read: 1/4

An effective 70% cut can not be a clerical mistake. Another incredibly concerning development in STFC science funding

Less than one week after this post, the theoretical particle physics grants have been ruthlessly cut. PDRA positions are down by ~70% compared to the last funding cycle. Some groups cannot even hire postdocs for the next 4 years. This is on top of an effective 100% hiring cut for October 2026.

@malcfairbairn.bsky.social explaining why the current proposed cuts is not just potentially devastating -- even if money is restored it has already done untold damage as UK PPAN community has already missed the international window for hiring this cycle. www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/stfc...

Good piece by @malcfairbairn.bsky.social: "The STFC turmoil bodes ill for UK plc as well as UK physics" www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/stfc...

Daniel Zeichner MP: Why I’m challenging UKRI on plans to cut physics research funding www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/daniel-...

Today's reminder (from @malcfairbairn.bsky.social) that economic growth needs skills, that the generation and supply of skills from curiosity driven research is a pipeline, in an ecosystem that needs consistent support. This isnt a tap to turn off and on, not if you want to nurture best talent.

I wrote a piece for the Times Higher about the current crisis in UK funding for particle physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics in the UK.

'If the UK wants to lead in the technologies of the future, it must also protect the research base that makes them possible.' Excellent letter from @si-wills.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Excellent letter from my colleague Dr Simon Williams @si-wills.bsky.social regarding the paradoxal attitude of #UKRI investing in quantum bit cutting fundamental research. 🧪 Worth reading. Lack of funding is stifling scientific research | Letter www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

This ⬇️ from @si-wills.bsky.social so articulately makes the case for investing in all aspects of the R&I pipeline, to generate future opportunities and nurture the skills to power progress. And this ⬇️ so clearly shows how mobile good ECRs are, and how quickly we can lose them if we are not careful.

Today, I have written a letter in The Guardian in response to the Government's investment in quantum and its ambition to retain UK talent. The UK is trying to build a quantum ecosystem while hollowing out the academic pipeline that produces the talent:

Yesterday, @ukri.org were spooked by this article enough to put out comms that completely failed to address any of the points this article raises. Worth a read.

Today's UKRI tweet on UKRI funding reforms and the financial position of STFC paints an incomplete and, in some areas, misleading picture. STFCs own council minutes set the record straight: www.ukri.org/publications...

Excellent to see that the advocacy from @si-wills.bsky.social @astroroyalscot.bsky.social @jonbutterworth.bsky.social and many other is cutting through. Also very glad @chionwurah.bsky.social is holding decision makers to account over this bùrach. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Delays to funding are translating into widespread attrition of early-career researchers across PPAN science. This is not hypothetical, this is happening now. Missing the international deadline has resulted in an effective 100% cut to new theoretical physics postdoc positions in the UK this cycle.

‘We need to sort this problem out’: Liz Kendall tells MPs on STFC cuts Science secretary assures House of Commons “we strongly back curiosity-led research”, despite impending cuts www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Higgs Boson was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts - BBC News share.google/xhHAsAY1s1Kx...

These are amazing! The whole of #PPAN should get stickers. I can see the theory one now: Schrödinger's budget: the record UKRI funding wavefunction that collapses into cuts the moment you observe PPAN

❌️ Stop the cuts! ❌️ We've been campaigning extensively for the reversal of proposed cuts to astronomy and space science. To help spread the word, we've also created some 'Save UK Astronomy' stickers! 🔭🪐 You can pick one up at any RAS event and show your support for the cause.

The chair of the House of Commons science committee has described impending cuts to physics funding as “wholly unacceptable” and “a failure” in an excoriating letter to the science minister and the leader of UKRI. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Excited to have come away from my trip to London for Royal Astronomical Society Council with a batch of newly-printed “Save Astronomy” stickers! 🔭 @royalastrosoc.bsky.social

Breaking: Looming physics cuts a ‘failure’, says science committee chair. Chi Onwurah says science minister and UKRI leadership must “bear responsibility” and “win back trust”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Really impressed by this letter from @chionwurah.bsky.social It's encouraging to see serious parliamentary scrutiny of UKRI's funding changes and their impact on the research community, particularly early-career researchers. I hope UKRI engages constructively with the committee and the community

The Science, Innovation & Tech committee have written the most amazing letter to DSIT/UKRI/STFC: "What is clear is that, despite your assertions to the contrary... widespread cuts have been proposed before adequate consultation with those affected was undertaken. This is wholly unacceptable" 💪🔭⚛️🧪

Yes, that's what happened...🧪🔭 Sir Ian Chapman's "Crumbs of comfort”: time heals all wounds 🤔 So far, #UKRI has not been able to propose more than this. STFC boss ‘grasps’ hit to postdocs from physics cuts www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

STFC boss Michele Dougherty admits UK will lose postdocs through physics cuts. Meeting minutes also show appetite within UKRI to move grants programme to alternative research council. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

A striking disconnect emerged this week over the STFC funding crisis. 🧪🔭 #UKRI framed the problem as a budget constraint, while ministers, Lords and MPs stressed protecting curiosity-driven research. Full narrative: lheurtier.github.io/STFCcuts.html

Some thoughts after two parliamentary committee hearings lifeandphysics.com/2026/03/08/s... #LifeAndPhysics

As the most volatile part of the research pipeline, early-career researchers absorb the brunt of any funding uncertainty. It’s extremely encouraging to see the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee taking this so seriously and pressing #STFC on the consequences of the new funding framework.

At yesterday's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, I pressed Prof Michele Dougherty STFC Executive Chair to explain how the £162m financial shortfall threatening our physics, astronomy, and nuclear research base had come about and why early career researchers were paying for it.

A brilliant piece summarising yesterday’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee hearing on the proposed #STFC cuts. The risks to early-career researchers and the UK research pipeline are very real. Honoured to have represented the ECR community and give evidence at the hearing.