Committee publication · Correspondence · 11 June 2026
Letter from Assistant Professor in High Energy Physics, University of Cambridge and Postdoctoral Research Associate, Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, University of Durham relating to Investment in Research Infrastructure: governance and concerns regarding UKRI/STFC reprioritisation of PPAN science, 5 June 2026
Summary
Two researchers from Cambridge and Durham write to the Public Accounts Committee ahead of its 11 June 2026 evidence session with UKRI and STFC leadership, raising concerns about funding cuts to particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN) research. They argue that STFC's restructuring risks undermining return on major infrastructure investments (£160m annual CERN subscription, £1.8m Boulby lab, £40m Quantum Technologies programme) and warn of a damaging loss of approximately 220–260 postdoctoral researchers, despite official assurances of no reduction.
Key findings
- STFC cuts risk diminishing UK scientific and economic return from £160 million annual CERN subscription and major LHC experiment upgrades, weakening UK leadership and international reputation.
- Proposed loss of 220–260 postdoctoral positions contradicts public UKRI and Science Minister statements of 'no reduction in PPAN post-doc numbers'; STFC commitment to restore to 'level of 2025–26' lacks a defined baseline.
- Loss of postdoctoral cohorts is not reversible: highly trained researchers will accept positions abroad, damaging the talent pipeline in both directions and eliminating mentors for the next generation.
- STFC has invested £1.8 million in Boulby underground laboratory for dark matter research; without continued funding, a narrow window of opportunity to establish world-leading capacity will close.
- £40 million Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics programme (24 projects since 2020) risks termination, threatening loss of specialist workforce and return on prior investment in early-career researchers.
Tone
AdversarialTopics
Key actors
Dr Sarah Williams, Dr Simon Williams, Sir Ian Chapman, Professor Michele Dougherty, Institute of Physics, UKRI, STFC, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Notable line
“Groups that lose their postdoctoral cohort do not simply pause and resume.”
Key Quotes
“Public statements from UKRI and the Science Minister have explicitly stated that there will be "no reduction in PPAN post-doc numbers", yet funding letters point to a reduction of approximately 220-260 postdoctoral positions 4 .”
“The loss of a cohort of ECRs is not a temporary loss that can simply be reversed later. Postdoc- toral recruitment in parts of PPAN operates on internationally recognised annual cycles, and the timing of these decisions caused the UK to miss a defined recruitment window for theoretical particle physics.”
“The UK has invested for decades in facilities, subscriptions, experiments and strategic pro- grammes, but those investments only deliver returns if there is a skilled domestic workforce able to exploit them.”
“Cuts now would undermine UK leadership on ATLAS and CMS, the two largest flagship experiments at CERN, after years of preparation for their Phase-II upgrades.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗