Employment contracts for research personnel

Predoctoral contract (R1)

The purpose of this contract is the performance of research activities, within the scope of a specific and innovative project, with a view to obtaining a PhD (predoctoral research staff in training). The contract may also be intended for postdoctoral orientation for a maximum period of 12 months. In addition, predoctoral research staff in training may collaborate in teaching activities up to a maximum of 180 hours during the total duration of the contract, without exceeding 60 hours per year.

The duration of the contract is one year, with the possibility of extension, subject to a report from the academic committee of the doctoral programme, with a maximum duration of four years or six years in the case of persons with disabilities. The calculation of the contract duration may be interrupted for periods dedicated to parental leave, pregnancy, breastfeeding, temporary disability, care of minors, family members or dependents, work-life balance, gender-based violence or similar situations. Periods of time spent on part-time leave or reduced working hours will trigger the extension of the contract for the time equivalent to the reduced working hours.

The contract provides for a termination indemnity of 12 days per year worked.

Doctoral research staff access contract (R2/R3)

The purpose of this contract is to carry out research, development, knowledge transfer and innovation tasks aimed at providing research staff with a high level of professional development and specialisation, with a view to consolidating their professional expertise. In addition, hired personnel may carry out teaching activities up to a maximum of 100 hours per year.

The duration is a minimum of three years and a maximum of six years (or eight years for persons with disabilities). The calculation of the contract duration may be interrupted for periods dedicated to parental leave, pregnancy, breastfeeding, temporary disability, care of minors, family members or dependents, work-life balance, gender-based violence or similar situations. Periods of time spent on part-time leave or reduced working hours will trigger the extension of the contract for the time equivalent to the reduced working hours.

From the second year of the contract, hired personnel may submit their research activity for evaluation, which, if successful, will result in receiving the R3 certificate, accrediting them as established research personnel, and exempting them from certain portions of entrance exams for civil servant and permanent staff in Public Research Bodies, Autonomous Community research bodies, public universities, foundations and public sector consortia. At the university level, the R3 certificate may substitute or exempt the holder from the assessment of research merits to obtain accreditation as a tenured or tenure-track professor. In the case of Public Research Bodies, the R3 certificate exempts the holder from certain portions of the tests held for access to the scale of Tenured Scientific Staff and permanent staff.

The contract provides for a termination indemnity of 12 days per year worked.

The call for the R3 certificate will be made by the State Research Agency and will involve not only the interim evaluation of persons with access contracts but also the evaluation of the careers of national and foreign researchers who can accredit their participation in postdoctoral programmes.

Distinguished researcher contract (R4)

The purpose of this contract is to manage human teams as the principal researcher and to supervise research or knowledge transfer, innovation centres, unique scientific and technological facilities and programmes of significant interest in their field of knowledge. Hired personnel may carry out teaching activities up to a maximum of 100 hours per year.

The position requirements include having a PhD degree, recognised standing, and an established international reputation based on the excellence of contributions in the candidate's scientific or technical field. The contract may also be concluded with research technologists with an established international reputation based on the excellence of their contributions both in the advancement of specific research techniques and in the valorisation and transfer of the knowledge and innovation they have generated.

The duration of the contract shall be agreed between the parties..

Open-ended contract for scientific and technical activities

This contract can be accessed by holders of a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Architecture or a Diploma in Technical Architecture or Technical Engineering and holders of a Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, Technical Diploma, Advanced Technical Diploma, PhD, or persons with any training, experience or skills in line with the requirements and tasks of the vacant position.

The purpose of the contract is to carry out activities related to lines of research or scientific-technical services, including scientific-technical management. The lines of research are defined as a set of knowledge, interests, products and projects systematically built around a thematic axis that brings together activities conducted by one or more research groups and will require development in accordance with the appropriate methodological guidelines in the form of R&D&I projects or contracts.

The contract term is open-ended.

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