On September 18th, 2025, Claire Tourmen, Director of the Center of Excellence in French and Francophone Studies at IESs, hosted an informational roundtable to discuss various opportunities related to education and careers in science in France. The presentation was led by esteemed guests Claire Giry, director of the French National Research Agency (ANR), Fabien Agenes and Jan Matas, of the Inserm/CNRS offices in the United States French Embassy, and David Do Paço, of the Villa Albertine-French Cultural Services to the United States. The roundtable was attended by 40 participants, and was followed by a brief discussion with the speakers.
The first speaker, David Do Paço, introduced the Lafayette Fellowship, a new scholarship program designed to support the next generation of young leaders with a strong interest in the transatlantic relationship between the United States and France. The Lafayette Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship from the United States French Embassy for up to thirty outstanding American students to pursue one year of master’s-level study in France. The fellowship is open to all fields and applicants must have a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The program was created in order to celebrate two hundred and fifty years of French-U.S. friendship and to support early researchers at the graduate level. To accomplish this goal, the fellowship includes funds for tuition, travel, and living expenses, and offers opportunities for leadership training through the French-American Leadership Program and gives participants access to a robust alumni network.
The next speaker, Claire Giry, began by highlighting excellence in the French research ecosystem, including sixty-nine Nobel Prize and five Abel Laureates winners, many top universities, such as Paris Sacaly, and renowned research organizations, such as CNRS and Inserm. She emphasized France’s strong tradition of international cooperation, its outstanding research potential, and vast opportunities for innovation. She presented the French Research Programming Act, a ten year strategy plan for French public research, aiming to boost innovation, attract scientific talent, and foster collaboration across society and the economy. Next, she introduced ANR, an agency created to promote French project-based research and to stimulate innovation by encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors. ANR operates France 2030, a targeted investment plan created to boost research spending connected to innovation and industrial actors in France.Finally, she presented the Choose France for Science program, which aims to strengthen France’s scientific attractiveness to international researchers in specific fields such as health, space studies, agriculture and climate. Lastly, Faben Agenes explained Inserm’s program to support senior researchers in the field of health. Inserm helps researchers identify host labs in France and connects them with relevant job opportunities. Jan Matas presented the goals of CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research, (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) to drive multidisciplinary research for the betterment of society. Within Choose France for Science, CNRS offers several additional opportunities, like post-doctoral positions and opportunities for non-French nationals to become civil servants.
Following the presentation, the guest speakers opened the floor for questions. The audience received clarity on the application process and funding for the Lafayette Fellowship, and also received further information on opportunities for doctoral students and the process of matching students with specific grants and fellowships. Overall, the event highlighted France’s strong commitment to fostering international collaboration and innovation in science through diverse research programs and fellowships. Attendees left with a clearer understanding of the numerous opportunities available for pursuing advanced study and research in France.