Although no one keeps statistics on the number of scientists who change institutions in any given year, many researchers and administrators say they are observing an increase in the incidence of these moves. It is a trend about which some are comfortable, some concerned. But virtually everyone is intrigued by the questions that such a trend raises. To what extent is a scientist a free agent? How much of this activity is stimulated by money and alleged "bidding wars" over the superstars in science? What do a principal investigator and his or her institution owe each other? And does it really matter where a scientist works?
When you get right down to it, administrators like to point out, all a scientist "owns" is his or her intellect, ideas, and creativity. Peer-review grants, though applied for and garnered by the principal investigator, are awarded to the institution. Likewise, all equipment and ...
