First US academics arrive in France under Aix-Marseille University’s “Safe Place for Science” program

Aix-Marseille University has welcomed eight U.S.-based researchers as the first group to join its “Safe Place for Science” initiative, designed to attract academics concerned about funding cuts and the research climate under the Trump administration.

Aix-Marseille University (AMU) introduced eight U.S.-based researchers last week who are in the final stage of joining its “Safe Place for Science” program, aimed at recruiting academics who have experienced or fear funding cuts under President Donald Trump. The Mediterranean port city initiative is the first of its kind in France, making these eight researchers the first academic “refugees” to move from the U.S. to France under such a program.

AMU President Eric Berton, speaking from the university’s astrophysics lab, compared the situation to that of European academics who fled Nazi Germany, stating, “What is at play here today is not unrelated to another dark period of our history.” Berton, along with former French President François Hollande, has advocated for the creation of a "scientific refugee" status.

Most researchers have not yet signed contracts and requested anonymity, fearing repercussions at their current U.S. institutions if they ultimately do not accept the positions. One applicant, James, a climate scientist, and his wife, who studies judicial systems and democracies, said they applied because they work in areas “which are targeted” and could face funding cuts. James emphasized that he does not consider himself a “refugee,” but voiced deep concern about the future of academic research under Trump.

Brian Sandberg, a history professor at Northern Illinois University who studies climate change during the Little Ice Age, learned of AMU’s program while visiting Marseille and decided to apply. “The entire system of research and the entire education in the United States is really under attack,” Sandberg said.

AMU reported 298 applications from researchers at prestigious institutions including Stanford and Yale. Berton said the high volume of applications reflected the “urgency” of the situation in the U.S. The university has committed €15 million to the program and is lobbying the French government to match this, which would nearly double its planned hires from 20 to 39.

Relocating to France presents challenges, including language barriers, lower salaries for academics compared to the U.S., and reduced research funding. An early-career biological anthropologist said she is waiting for contract details due to salary discrepancies, but noted the lower cost of living and free education for her children as important benefits. “There’ll be a lot less stress as a whole, politically, academically,” she said.

AMU’s president insisted that participants in the “Safe Place for Science” program would earn the same wages as French researchers, addressing domestic concerns about prioritizing foreign scientists. While the move is a major transition, several applicants highlighted the appeal of a more balanced, less stressful environment in France.

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