European Commission

"It is challenging to provide a testimony about my experience with EURAXESS in the CZECH REPUBLIC; the reason is the following: what they have done for us is far beyond our expectation and everything I had hoped that would happen.
My husband and I came from Brazil to the Czech Republic in order to follow part of my PhD program at "The Institute of Science" in Prague. Considering the long waiting period to get the visa, the vice-consul of the Czech Republic's Consulate in São Paulo advised us to travel to the Czech Republic, start the PhD research and wait for the answer here in Prague.
This is in fact what we did; but, days and weeks passed, but no answer came in respect to our visa application. We were at the verge of going back to Brazil, because the deadline to stay within the Schengen area was about to expire with consequences that were really severe. My scholarship would be automatically suspended; I would be asked to reimburse all the financial support received until that very moment, and my PhD would be jeopardized, with high risk of being interrupted and suspended.
I was told about EURAXESS at the point where we had no hope left of solving the visa problem. In fact, someone at the Institute of Science in Prague, were I went to seek support on this problematic matter, gave me this precious hint.

With the blink of an eye they solved all our problems and even our resident permission was granted. It was like a dream come true.

As a result to this I was able to conclude successfully my research program in Prague. All this thanks to EURAXESS and the Institute of Science of Czech Republic, who were so helpful to me at the most critical moment.

Thank you EURAXESS for everything, I have no ways to express my thanks to you all."

"In cases like mine, I can't imagine how the system could be any better"

Christophe moved from France to Norway in January 2008 to accept a post-doctoral research fellowship at Physics of Geological Processes, a Centre of Excellence at UiO (University of Oslo), where Karin Brastad, of the EURAXESS Local Contact Point at the University, was ready with information and assistance. "It was really helpful to have a contact person to turn to for all the necessary information," Christophe recalls.

He is pleased with his overall reception at the UiO and found the Norwegian system for receiving foreign researchers to be very straightforward. Getting his Norwegian national identity number, the key to a smooth transition, went quickly.

The Norwegian identity number is the key to opening a bank account, obtaining a tax card, setting up salary payment, being assigned a local doctor, and many other necessities. He was assigned a personal identity number so quickly that he was able to start working straightaway.

Christophe came to Norway with his partner, who is also employed at UiO. What attracted the couple to Norway in the first place was their desire to experience something different and to try living in a country where people have a closeness to nature. Other factors were the high-calibre research being conducted at the Physics of Geological Processes centre and the good working conditions.

"I've really gotten to know the group at the centre, Christophe adds, - and it is an easy place to integrate into." The working language is English, and all the information is prepared in or translated into English.

Christophe's post-doctoral research fellowship draws to a close in 2010; where he will head from there is still unknown.

Being awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics is a testament to the hard work carried out by Professor Novoselov, a 36-year old Russian and UK citizen and the youngest Nobel laureate since 1973, along with Professor Andre Geim of the University of Manchester in the UK.

This award is a recognition of the studies developed by the two scientists on "Graphene", a one-atom-thick crystal with unusual quantum conductive properties that is set to revolutionise electronics and photonics such as computers, sensors and solar cells.

In a recent scientific paper describing the "Graphene" discovery, Professor Novoselov said: '[It] has opened up the increasingly rich possibilities in the development of future electronic devices from this truly versatile material.'

The prize also puts the spotlight on the steps taken by the EU to promote scientists and their research, as well as cooperation in Europe and beyond.

Commenting on the Nobel Prize win and what it means for Europe, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: 'Europe can be proud of them and of their work. This is a first for the European Research Council, and I hope more Nobel Prizes will follow as a result of this valuable European investment in the best scientists and in their innovative research in Europe.'

After completing his PhD in Biotechnology and working at the Georg-August University of Goettingen, Germany, Indian born Sudhakar Peddireddi moved to Ireland on a Hosting Agreement to work on the discovery of Bioactives at the Centre of Applied Marine Biotechnology (CAMBio), located at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) campus.

In April 2010, he applied to the local immigration officer to remain in Ireland as his contract, and therefore his Hosting Agreement, had expired. While the institute did not have funds to continue his Hosting Agreement with pay, they were happy to allow him the use the facilities and continue his research work for a number of months. As his local immigration officer was not aware of the details of the Hosting Agreement system, he was refused even a short time extension.

At that stage he approached Dr. Magdalena Wislocka at the EURAXESS Ireland Helpdesk in Dublin, an expert on Hosting Agreements in Ireland. She was able to provide much needed assurance to him and to his host Institute and, through her contacts in the Immigration Policy Section of the Department of Justice in Dublin, was able to secure an extension of Sudhakar's visa in a very short period of time. Sudhakar is certain that without the support and advice he received from Magda and the expertise of the EURAXESS office in relation to Hosting Agreements and Immigration Policy, he would not have been allowed to stay and complete his research project in Ireland.

In 2008, Oksana moved from Ukraine to Czech Republic with her husband to pursue her PhD in Medicine at the Institute of the Experimental Medicine of the Academy of Sciences. However, her lack of information on the necessary visa

Oksana from Ukraine: "It is very difficult to overestimate the support from EURAXESS Services"

formalities for travelling within the EU ended in turmoil while simply hoping to return to her two-year old daughter for Christmas in the Ukraine.

Not knowing that her visa did not allow her an additional European Union's (or Member State?) country transit, she was deported from Poland to her home country. It even went as far as her named being filed in the Schengen Information System, thus implying that she could not be granted a renewal of her visa.

Before the expiration of her visa, hoping to pursue her studies, she approached the EURAXESS Services centre in Prague for help, determined to avoid similar problems which could jeopardize her future career and family life. With a great deal of efforts, determination and knowledge of administrative procedures by the Czech and Polish EURAXESS staff, Oksana was granted a Czech national visa which ultimately ensured she could continue her studies, and still visit her family back in Ukraine. In addition they managed to remove her name from the Schengen Information System!

"Moving to a new place is always quite challenging, especially when you move to another country. Besides such basic things as to get used to a new way of life in a new society you face lots of paper formalities which complicate your life greatly, especially at the beginning and without knowing a language. That is why it is extremely helpful for a foreigner to receive some assistance and professional advice, which we have found in the EURAXESS Services Centre. It is very difficult to overestimate the support we received. I would like to thank one more time the EURAXESS team for giving me a helping hand and being there for me when the times were so difficult."