State Level Representation of Chinese Scholars Mobility to and within the United States, 2009 to 2018

A review of researcher mobility between China and the United States shows overall growth in mobility between the two nations. A review based upon a scholar’s change of address from China to the United States or vice versa reveals mobility patterns. Between 2009 and 2018, an overall upward trend is noted for incoming scholars from China, as well as upward trends in those returning to China. Within the United States, researchers flow across states, but they are less likely to leave the larger, more R&D-rich states like California, New York, or Massachusetts. Chinese researchers are more likely to locate based upon reputation of research institutions than overall research spending or defense research locations. Mobility has a positive impact on China-U.S. collaboration numbers and citations.