Committee publication · Correspondence · 22 April 2026
Correspondence from Professor Mark Lancaster, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, re: Comments on Lord Vallance and Sir Ian Chapman written response dated 19 March in relation to scientific research funding, 2 April 2026
From: Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Inquiry: Scientific research funding
Summary
Professor Mark Lancaster writes to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on behalf of early-career researchers to challenge statements made by Lord Vallance regarding particle physics funding cuts. He provides evidence that postdoctoral support in theoretical particle physics has fallen 70% (from 58.33 to 19.5 FTE per year), contradicting ministerial claims of stable funding levels and undermining researcher recruitment and retention.
Key findings
- STFC funding letters reveal a 70% reduction in postdoctoral support for theoretical particle physics (58.33 to 19.5 FTE per year), reflecting new reduced baseline rather than previous support levels
- Lord Vallance's statement that ~20 particle physics postdoctoral researchers are funded annually represents the new, lower funding level, not the historical baseline
- Despite ministerial assurance of 'no reduction in PPAN post-doc numbers,' funding letters confirm substantial reductions in postdoctoral support across particle physics theory and wider PPAN areas
- Significant cuts are already affecting recruitment and retention of early-career researchers across the particle physics and astronomy communities
- Evidence from Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (Durham) and astronomy community provided to support claims
Tone
AdversarialTopics
Key actors
Professor Mark Lancaster, Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Lord Vallance, Sir Ian Chapman, Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, STFC, Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology, University of Durham, UKRI
Notable line
“The consolidated grant feedback issued by STFC outlines a reduction in postdoctoral support from 58.33 FTE per year to 19.5 FTE per year, corresponding to a cut of approximately 70%.”
Key Quotes
“… the statement that "typically ∼ 20 particle physics theory post-doctoral researchers [are] funded by UKRI each year" reflects the new, reduced level of support following the latest funding round, rather than the previous baseline”
“The consolidated grant feedback issued by STFC outlines a reduction in postdoctoral support from 58.33 FTE per year to 19.5 FTE per year, corresponding to a cut of approximately 70%.”
“… it appears difficult to reconcile with the funding letters now issued, which confirm substantial reductions in postdoctoral support across particle physics theory, alongside wider impacts across PPAN”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗