Walk through any one of Pennsylvania’s major research universities — from Penn State to Pitt to Lehigh — and you’ll find some of the most advanced training facilities in the country.

These labs aren’t just educating future scientists. They’re helping to power Pennsylvania’s economy.

But that system is now under threat.

Recent decisions at the federal level, including proposed cuts to research budgets and changes to how universities are reimbursed for the cost of research (known as indirect costs or “F&A”) — may seem technical, but they could have real economic consequences for our commonwealth. We recently co-authored an article explaining those costs in the journal Science.

Chemistry research is at the center of some of our nation’s most important industries and it touches our daily lives in more ways than you might realize. It’s in the medicines we take, the fabrics we wear, the clean water we drink, the fuel in our cars and the energy that powers our homes.

In Pennsylvania, the chemical industry contributes approximately $30 billion to the state’s GDP. In fact, in 2024 the chemical sector represented Pennsylvania’s largest export category, accounting for $13.8 billion of the state’s $45.9 billion in total manufactured exports.

Overall, the chemical industry contributes more than $600 billion to the U.S. economy each year and supports more than 4 million jobs nationwide. That economic engine starts with research and much of that happens right here in Pennsylvania.

Federal research dollars don’t just fund experiments for science discoveries. At institutions like ours, those funds help maintain the very infrastructure that trains students for the jobs of today and tomorrow. They support the labs and equipment where students learn to work with the tools they’ll use in the field.

Just take these examples from this year’s graduating class at Penn State.

One student, a native Pennsylvanian, is now a top research chemist for PPG Industries in Pittsburgh, developing the next generation protective coatings for marine vessels and fire protection systems.

Another recent graduate is now a senior researcher for Dow Chemical in Collegeville. These students earned these jobs because they had access to state-of-the-art synthesis techniques and characterization tools such as those housed at Penn State.

This world-class training, funded in most part by federal dollars, allowed them to integrate seamlessly in the industrial sector and make immediate impacts in chemical manufacturing.

Without federal support, we can’t produce a skilled workforce, and employers can’t find job-ready talent.

We know this firsthand. As the leaders of our respective departments, we partner with industry to make sure our graduates are ready to hit the ground running. We talk directly with employers to understand what technical skills matter most, and we adapt our training accordingly.

We can provide training at scale, that industry alone would not be able to provide, because we have the equipment and expertise to prepare thousands of students at once to join the workforce and contribute to innovation.

That work is made possible not just by tuition dollars, but by federal investment in our university infrastructure. When that funding is cut, students lose the opportunity to prepare for their careers and industries lose future employees.

These investments don’t just benefit scientists or those who work in universities. They benefit all of us.

When chemistry research leads to a new battery technology, a safer cancer drug or a stronger material for bridges and buildings, it creates economic growth, job opportunities and public good.

It’s simple: federal funding leads to university research, which trains students, who then get hired into local companies. When that chain breaks, jobs disappear — not just in labs, but in the factories, clinics and tech startups that rely on skilled workers. This includes the administrative staff, sales staff, marketing staff, accountants, warehouse workers, truck drivers and all the local small businesses that serve those companies.

That’s why we hope our elected officials — both in Harrisburg and in Washington — can protect and expand research funding, not cut it. We hope they understand that this isn’t about academic wish lists. It’s about sustaining an economic engine that benefits every part of Pennsylvania, from its colleges and universities to startup pharmaceutical companies in Philadelphia to S&P500 companies like PPG in Pittsburgh.

Chemistry research is not a luxury for the few. It’s a driver of economic growth, workforce development and global competitiveness. Cutting support for it now doesn’t save money. It costs us jobs, innovation and opportunity. One recent analysis found that a 25% cut to federal spending on research would reduce the United States GDP “by an amount comparable to the decline in GDP during the Great Recession.” Cuts would be harmful for the U.S. economy and a gift to our global competitors.

Anyone who values economic progress in Pennsylvania should support publicly funded research. It’s important to remember that smart investment in science is investment in your community’s future.

Kenneth Knappenberger is a professor of chemistry and professor of physics at Penn State. Gregory Ferguson is a professor of chemistry at Lehigh University. Haitao Liu is a professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania Capital-Star is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Pennsylvania Capital-Star maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Tim Lambert for questions: info@penncapital-star.com. Follow Pennsylvania Capital-Star on Facebook and Twitter.