Observers have predicted a brain drain of researchers from the UK in the aftermath of the vote to leave the European Union as rival countries snap up academic talent.

Jonathan Adams, chief scientist at the consultancy Digital Science, says that the leave vote is a “real concern” and would strengthen the appeal of universities in places such as Singapore and South Korea. It will put off “people here who feel alienated by the attitude to internationalism in their own country”, he says. In addition, scientists from abroad would be deterred from coming to the UK by “anti-foreigner” sentiment. Adds Daniel Hook, managing director of Digital Science: “This puts Germany in an amazing position to capitalise on the UK’s exit.”

Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London, says his EU colleagues are feeling “increasingly unwelcome”, and one had said that he would leave the UK in the event of a Brexit vote. “There are plenty of good places to go,” he says, mentioning South Korea and other European countries.

The vote would also have “a clear and immediate impact on recruiting people from abroad” and there will be a “rapid drop-off” in hiring academics from overseas. He adds that he has little confidence that any new government would put in place a “sophisticated immigration policy” that would allow continued recruitment.

Sarah Main, executive director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, says it’s “technically possible” for a new government to craft an “outward-looking migration policy” post-Brexit. However, “the big challenge is that globally the perception is that the UK has chosen… an anti-immigration” stance, she adds.

Comments David Price, vice-provost (research) at University College, London: “The vote is likely to be a disaster for the long-term future of UK research and the higher education sector”.