Fact check: Scientific research at Harvard is driven by post-docs. A majority of those are non US citizens on J visas.

1. Summary of the results

The statement about Harvard's research being driven by post-docs, particularly non-US citizens on J visas, can be partially verified but requires important nuance. While there is indeed a significant presence of international scholars at Harvard, with the institution hosting researchers from over 140 countries ^[1], the specific claim about J visas is not directly supported by the available sources. Data shows that over half of STEM postdocs nationally are foreign nationals on temporary visas, with biomedicine seeing up to two-thirds foreign postdoc representation ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Funding Diversity: Harvard offers various funding opportunities, with some sponsors specifically limiting funding to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, while others are open to non-U.S. citizens ^[3]
• Position Requirements: Some prestigious positions, like the Dean's Postdoctoral Fellowship, explicitly require U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status ^[4]
• Institutional Support: Harvard maintains specific resources for international scholars, including tax and immigration assistance, indicating a structured system for supporting non-US researchers ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement contains several oversimplifications and potential biases:

• Overgeneralization: The statement implies a uniform situation across Harvard, but the sources suggest variation across departments and disciplines
• Visa Specification: While there is evidence of significant international representation, the specific claim about J visas is not supported by the provided sources
• Research Driver Claim: While postdocs are clearly important, the statement that research is "driven" by them lacks direct evidence in the provided sources

The statement appears to oversimplify a complex institutional dynamic where both domestic and international scholars contribute to Harvard's research environment, with varying requirements and opportunities depending on funding sources and specific positions.