A Harvard professor is giving away his entire salary to his lab workers, highlighting the low pay and high stress faced by many in the industry. This tradition began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the professor learned that his student researchers were struggling to afford basic necessities.
David Liu, a chemistry professor and director of the Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare at Harvard, has been celebrating Thanksgiving by giving away his entire salary – sans taxes – to the students and workers who staff his biomedical lab for the past five years. This tradition began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when “he learned that his student researchers were struggling to afford basic necessities.”
A Model of Generosity in a Industry Struggling with Low Pay
“Liu’s generosity is commendable,” but it also highlights the low pay and high stress that many lab technicians face. Despite their crucial work, these jobs are notoriously “low-paid, with benefits scarce.” This has led to an industry-wide staffing shortage, particularly in medical labs.
The Labor Struggle Behind the Scenes
On the institutional side, graduate student researchers have been fighting for better pay and increased benefits through student worker unions. The Harvard Graduate Students’ Union, HGSU-UAW 5118, has successfully led two contract campaigns to fight wage freezes and secure benefits, including medical, childcare, and emergency expense reimbursement. However, these efforts are often met with resistance from administrators.
The Harvard Graduate Students' Union (HGSU) is a student-led organization representing the interests of graduate students at Harvard University.
Founded in 1987, HGSU advocates for improved working conditions, benefits, and academic support for graduate students.
With over 14,000 members, it is one of the largest graduate student unions in the United States.
HGSU works closely with university administrators to address issues such as tuition fees, healthcare, and family leave policies.
A Warning About the Consequences of Cutting Education Funding
“Liu’s concerns about the future of scientific discovery in America are shared by many,” when funding for education is slashed, it can have devastating consequences. “To me, slashing funding and people from science in the United States is like burning your seed corn,” Liu said. “It’s not even eating your seed corn. It’s just destroying it.”
