The hero of our day is Mireia González Tò, a young girl making her first steps on science. She's doing her Ph degree on Vegetal Genetics. She has a grant form the Education Ministry of Spain, not a lot of money but at least it's guaranteed for four years, time enough to decide if science is the way she wants to take as her walking path on life. As we'll see below in Sapin beginners do not enter into science through a roses garden. Not only to complete her revenues but also for pleasure, she also works on a discotheque. Discotheque Somnis in Terrassa, near Barcelona . This is real good example to show that scientist are something more than people on white coats working on labs. She is working on the IRTA
What is the IRTA?
The Institute for Food and Agricultural Research and Technology (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries; IRTA) is a state-owned company of the Catalan Government. IRTA's activities are concerned with scientific research and technology transfer in the area of agriculture, aquaculture and the agrifood industry and it functions under private sector law.
IRTA has promoted the establishment of permanent collaboration agreements with other public institutions that can be defined as a co-operative R+D system.
The Department of Plant Genetics is located in the Centre of Cabrils
Different Melon Species
IRTA center in Cabrils
Fields of study
- Use of molecular markers for variety identification and assisted selection in horticultural, fruit growing and ornamental species.
- Plant genomics: sequencing and construction of genetic maps in horticultural and fruit growing species.
- Application of "in vitro" cultivation techniques for obtaining diplohaploid lines in horticultural and ornamental species.
- Genetic transformation in rice, melon, pepper and peach trees. Incorporation of resistance genes for insects and diseases.
- Genetic improvement of ornamental species: cut flowers and pot plants.
- Domestication of wild autochthonous species with ornamental, medicinal or aromatic value.
The "MELON" project
Development of genomic tools for melon (Cucumis melo L) for the analysis of resistance characters towards pathogens and the fruit quality
Young researchers in Spain
Young Spanish researchers lack employment rights derived from their scientific work such as affiliation to the social security system or health benefits. They depend on grants and are considered to be students under their normal training process. Still, they have to pay taxes for the income of their grants and must be exclusively engaged in research and university lecturing. As this applies to both pre-doctoral and post-doctoral positions, researchers can be in this situation for more than ten years. It is even more discriminatory with the small budget for research and the very reduced number of positions opened every year.
Under these circumstances, the scientific system in Spain suffers from continual loss of its members, who decide to pursue their scientific careers abroad or completely leave any academic activity.
The figures
25% OF PEOPLE WORKING ON RESEARCH PROJECTS IN SPAIN ARE PHD STUDENTS
46% OF STUDENTS WITH A GRANT RENOUNCE TO IT BEFORE IT IS OVER
AROUND 87% OF PHD STUDENTS LEAVE HER THESIS UNFINISHED
Source: FJI
Because of the reduced number of contracted scientists and technicians, Spanish research system is highly dependent on doctoral students. They develop most part of the experimental tasks of the research projects of their groups and this is sometimes not strictly related to their PhD theme.
Under these circumstances, it is noteworthy that several students leave before obtaining the doctoral degree towards a better recognised job. However there is still an important number of students that get their degree every year. This number greatly exceeds the capacity of absorption of the Spanish research system. Once the doctor degree has been obtained there are few possibilities to do research in Spain and therefore Spanish doctors usually spent many years working abroad. There are many difficulties to return to Spain due to the reduced number of permanent positions opened every year.
Source: Federación de Jóvenes Investigadores (FJI)
More information in: www.precarios.org www.eurodoc.net
