University, 'research' and 'post-doc' assignments arrive

The deadlock on university pre-tenure is broken. The Senate's Education Committee has approved an amendment to the Pnrr Scuola decree that, on the one hand, introduces two new figures alongside the research contract ("research" and "post-doc" positions) and, on the other, averts the risk for Italy of losing the "Marie Curie" projects. Decree 45 is expected in the chamber of Palazzo Madama from tomorrow for the first parliamentary green light, then it will go to the House for a second reading. The measure must be converted into law by 6 June.

As we have anticipated in Il Sole 24 Ore in recent days, the Occhiuto-Cattaneo amendment adds two new contractual institutes for managing the phase separating the PhD from access to the academic career as a researcher or associate/ordinary professor (the pre-role, in fact) alongside the research contract that has replaced the old research cheque since January.

The first is 'post-doc appointments', which govern the performance of research activities, as well as collaboration in teaching and third mission activities, fixed-term contracts, financed in whole or in part with internal funds, or financed by third parties, both public and private, on the basis of specific agreements or conventions.

The second relates to 'research assignments' aimed at introducing research and innovation under the supervision of a mentor, which may be awarded to young scholars who have held a master's or single-cycle degree for no more than six years and have a curriculum vitae suitable for assisting research activities.

At the same time, the approved amendment proposal averts the risk that the winners of Marie Curie projects would lose the funds because the research contract was not covered by the calls for proposals. The rule introduced in Decree 45, in fact, specifies that "they are not compatible with attending university degree courses, specialised or master's degree courses, PhD courses or specialisation courses in the medical area, in Italy or abroad", while "without prejudice to the possibility of implementing specific European Union research funding programmes in the context of actions linked" to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (Msca) programme. Thus offering a backstop to the resolution of the matter. As Minister Anna Maria Bernini also points out: "The approval of the Occhiuto/Cattaneo amendment is the response that the scientific community was waiting for, after the strong concerns about the risk of exclusion from European projects". For the holder of the Mur, her priority 'is to stand by those who advance innovation every day. We want to multiply opportunities, not reduce them. Because the future is built by investing in research and in those who make it possible'.