Curie and her husband declined to go to Stockholm to receive the prize in person; they were too busy with their work, and Pierre, who disliked public ceremonies, was feeling increasingly ill.[38][39] As Nobel laureates were required to deliver a lecture, the Curies finally undertook the trip in 1905.[39] The award money allowed the Curies to hire their first laboratory assistant.[39] Following the award of the Nobel Prize, and galvanized by an offer from the University of Geneva, which offered Pierre a position, the University of Paris gave Pierre a professorship and the chair of physics, although the Curies still did not have a proper laboratory.[18][35][36] Upon Pierre's complaint, the University of Paris relented and agreed to furnish a new laboratory, but it would not be ready until 1906.[39]
In December 1904, Curie gave birth to their second daughter, Ève.[39] She later hired Polish governesses to teach her daughters her native language, and sent or took them on visits to Poland.[6]