There are too many postgraduate life sciences research students in the UK, a committee of experts says.

If the numbers were cut, those who remained could be paid 35% more - in an effort to compete with comparable salaries outside universities.

The idea has been put forward by a working party from the UK Life Sciences Committee made up of senior academics and representatives of research charities.

Their report argues that something drastic has to be done if the research field is to compete with industry and its higher salaries.

Need to attract the best

It says that attracting the highest quality individuals to PhD training is essential for the future of biosciences in the UK, whether in industry or in basic research and development.

The report notes the financial disadvantages faced by anyone wanting to pursue a life sciences research degree.

Research councils currently offer students a stipend of £6,620 a year, while students who enter the job market immediately after their first degree typically have a salary of £13,300 after tax.

With current university and public sector salary levels, it says, the average student would not clear a loan company debt of £10,000 until 15 years after they graduated. This compares with an average of nine years for someone becoming an accountant.

£9,000 minimum

"We argue that if the UK is to attract the best life scientists into research and development then for sound economic reasons the system must respond to the alternative opportunities on offer across the graduate market," they say.

"We therefore recommend that in future all research council-funded PhD students should receive a minimum stipend of £9,000."

The only way to manage this might well be to cut the opportunities for people to do research.

"This may well decrease significantly the number of PhD students being supported by the research councils," the report says, " ... a cultural change away from a policy of maximising the numbers of PhD students being trained regardless of the scientific needs of the nation."

The working party also recommends that there should be more Masters degrees taken in the life sciences before people go on to do research.