Knowledge flows across borders: migrant STEM workers’ personal and professional journeys

Abstract

This research aims to investigate how personal and professional journeys of migrant STEM workers influence brain drain and brain circulation. For this purpose, it was analyzed the case of Brazilian migrant STEM workers who have migrated to the United States (U.S.), using a qualitative research approach. Based on secondary data and semi-structured interviews with 41 Brazilian migrant STEM workers, the study analyzes how their personal and professional journeys impact human capital mobility and knowledge flows between U.S and Brazil. Brain drain has been a critical problem to the human capital development of emerging countries, whereas brain circulation offers a potential pathway to mitigate these human capital losses. The results reveal that brain drain and brain circulation are not mutually exclusive phenomena, but rather coexist in a complex manner. The research also identifies four mechanisms for knowledge flows across borders through migrant STEM workers: global networks; ethnic ties and personal connections; scientific and innovative collaboration practices; and diaspora communities. In several situations, informal and relational mechanisms enable knowledge flows, albeit in a non-institutionalized way. As a contribution, the study proposes an expanded theoretical understanding of human capital mobility by incorporating personal and relational dimensions, and recommends the development of public policies that build “bridges” between Brazil and their migrant STEM workers abroad.