Bridge to Nowhere?

The NIH is starting a new program to "build a 'bridge to independence'" for post-docs hoping to find academic positions. Actually, to accelerate the process, but only for a very few individuals. This may also have the additional effect of causing those post-docs who do not receive the award to re-assess their career potential and goals (because the people with this award will have a HUGE advantage over them in the academic job market). So, I guess this is another way of separating the wheat from the chaff - something that must be done in the academic research world. [BTW, I currently consider myself chaff in this context. Not in any others, though.] So, it seems like this is a program that is win-win (when looked at from a larger perspective). However, I'm sure the post-docs who are forced out of academia will not see it this way (at first).

This will be great for a few researchers but the larger prospects still remain grim. With NIH funding being cut, tough times are ahead for everyone in academia at least until the next Congress...or President.