A delegation of PhD students from the University of Messina took part in the VI National Assembly of the Italian Research Doctorate Society (SiDRI) at the Chamber of Deputies on 8 and 9 May.
During the two days, young researchers from Messina intervened to ask for an improvement in the conditions of the “research doctor” and, in particular, the valorisation of the research doctorate and academic research currently affected by the legislative proposal n.1609 of 13 December 2023 , with the first signatory being the Honourable Giampiero Zinzi.
The discussion took place in front of many representatives of parliament, government and university institutions and the delegation from the University of Messina was made up of PhD students Agostino ZitoSidri coordinator of the University of Messina; Emanuele Fiore, Luigi Provini, Pietro Ambra and Salvatore SerranòPhDs from the Department of Political and Legal Sciences; Francesco Armonefrom the Department of Economics and academic senator at UniMe; Andrea Parafioriti of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, PhD student in Translational molecular medicine and surgery; Tancredi Bertolinodoctoral student in private law at the University of Siena.
The SiDRI coordinator brought the greetings of the Messina delegation, Agostino Zitowhich was followed by the intervention of Emanuele Fiorewhich entered into the merits of some amendments to the bill under discussion.
In particular, the proposed changes concern: in the competitive context, during the access phase, making the requirement of previous PA experience in top roles an alternative to the title of research doctor; in the ranking phase, the introduction of provisions regarding the constraint for administrations to assign to research doctors a higher score (at least triple) than that assigned today to holders of specialization diplomas and second level master's degrees; in the public sector: provide for specific transitions between areas and salary ranges; on economic conditions: the inadequacy of the grant compared to the minimum maintenance costs was highlighted, especially for off-site students and therefore an adjustment was proposed on a par with the grant received by medical residents. On this last point, economic discrimination would be remedied, since both figures are included in a professional/academic specialization path and, on the European front, it would conform to the average salary recognized by the main member countries.
Present to listen to the speech of the delegates from Messina were, among others, the honorable members Giampiero Zinzi, Walter Rizzetto and Christian Di Sanzowho underlined the transversal sharing of politics on the proposals presented.