The first investigators fleeing the US expenses trimmed by President Donald Trump begin to work at a French university in June, authorities said Thursday.
The University of Aix Marseille said that its “Safe Place for Science” scheme received an avalanche of applicants after announcing in March that it would open its doors to US scientists threatened by cuts.
Of 298 applications, 242 were considered eligible and “they are being studied” for about 20 postable positions, the university said in a statement.
He added that 135 of the applicants were American citizens and 45 were dual citizens.
The president of the University, Eric Berton, said he wanted to see a new status of “refugee scientist”, and for more American researchers to be welcome in France and Europe.
Read more: Call in France to create a new status of ‘refugees’ for US researchers
Former President Francois Hollande presented a bill that established said status in the French Parliament, now deputy.
The University of Aix Marseille has previously brought 25 scientists from Ukraine, Yemen, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories under another program for researchers under threat.
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The university has reserved a budget for each investigator to receive between € 600,000 and € 800,000 about three years to continue their work.
He said that applicants for a variety of American institutions, including Johns Hopkins, Nasa, Yale, Stanford, Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania.
A selection panel will meet next Wednesday, followed by remote interviews before the first scientists arrive in early June.
Read more: How easy is to move to France as a researcher or scientist?
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