General information

A research fellowship is an "atypical" contractual form that only universities and research institutes may draft for the execution of research projects with scholars in possession of a suitable scientific and professional curriculum to the implementation of such projects, which would be identified through a public selection procedure based on a specific tender notice.

The research fellowship does not establish in any form an employment relationship and will not give any right to become part of the university staff in any way.

The research fellowship is awarded through a public selection procedure on the basis of a specific tender notice, which leads to the drafting of a contract establishing the guidelines for the research collaboration between the University and the chosen candidate. Research fellowships can be activated either through the:
• Publication of calls for specific research programs with own funding.
• Publication of a single tender notice referring to scientific areas of interest, in which it is provided that individual candidates are to submit research projects. To the application form, the candidate is to attach his/her own qualifications and publications

To be eligible for a scholarship, the candidate must be in possession of a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree obtained either in Italy or abroad (for example in the former case, a degree prior to D.M. 509/99 or a 4-to-6-year degree), and of an adequate professional and scientific curriculum to implement the research activities.

A doctoral degree or an equivalent title obtained abroad, if required by the call, may constitute a compulsory requirement for admission to the selection. In this case, the research fellowship is going to be qualified as a "post-doctoral research fellowship".

The following cases are not eligible to be granted a research fellowship:
• Candidates who has a degree of kinship or affinity, up to the fourth degree of kinship, with any professor employed in the academic department in charge of granting the research fellowship, or with the Rector, the General Director or with a member of the Board of Directors.
• Permanent staff and professors of Universities, Institutions and Public Research Bodies, National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) and of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), as well as of Institutions whose degree of scientific completion was recognized as equivalent to the title of research graduate under article 74, clause 4, DPR 382/1980 (literally, Decree of the President of the Republic).

Research fellowship holding is incompatible with:
• Enrollment in bachelor’s or master’s degree courses, in any PhD with a scholarship or in any medical specialization course, be it in Italy or abroad
• Working in the public administration, even if in a part-time contract. Were the candidate in such a situation, he is going to be placed on leave from work
The research fellowship holder is obliged to submit, when signing of the contract, a declaration in accordance with DPR 445/2000 attesting to the absence of any incompatibility issues or eventual previously enjoyed allowances.

The selection process works through the following phases:
• A call is published on the websites of the University, of the Ministry in charge and of the European Union.
• Candidates apply for the related call through the application form.
• A three-members commission appointed by the senior manager of the academic department judges the candidates on the basis of the requirements outlined in the call and of an eventual interview, possibly through videoconference.
• Merit ranking are drafted and published on the university website, one of each area of interest.

The research fellowship contract may last between 1 and 3 years overall and can be renewed.

It is possible to assign a research fellowship contract to the same person for no longer than 5 years in the case of European-financed allowances, or alternatively for no longer than 4 years for all other kinds of research fellowships. This limit is to be abided by even if the research fellowship has been conferred as a result of different calls in both the same University/Body or in different ones. The renewal cannot last less than one year.

The 5/4 years limit is not influenced by research fellowships that are enjoyed while taking a PhD course without a scholarship, strictly based on the legal duration of the course itself.

Research fellowships cannot be aggregated with scholarship, except for those granted by Italian or foreign institution and used to complete the research activity by a stay abroad.

An individual during his/her career cannot stipulate any contracts as a Research Fellowship Holder (article 22 L.240/2010) and as a fixed-time researcher (article 24 L. 240/2010) for a period lasting longer than 12 years, even when not continuous or when stipulated with different universities or bodies.
Eventual maternal or sick leave are not to be taken into account in the calculation of the time limit.

Research fellowship attributed in accordance with the previously-in-force law (in force of, article 51, clause 6, law 449/97) are to be excluded from the calculation of the 4/5 year time limit (which is the limit for the attribution of research fellowship) and from the calculation of the 12-year time limit (conferring of research fellowship and of fixed-period researcher contracts, articles 22 and 24 L. 240/10).

The successful candidates of the research fellowship is bound to submit, when signing the contract, a specific declaration form in accordance with DPR 445/2000 attesting to eventual enjoyed allowances.

The contract can be rescinded by the Research Fellowship Holder with a no-less than 30 days notification or, alternatively, by the Director of the academic department in the event of serious and relevant contractual breach from the Research Fellowship Holder, under the condition that the academic supervisor reported to the Manager of the academic department of reference, in accordance with article 1460 c.c.

Unless differently indicated by a specific ministerial decree, the highest and lowest annual amount of the research fellowship is set by the academic senate.