Beyond the professor/student/postdoctoral researcher trio, university research is based on a fourth protagonist, highly qualified personnel, but very precarious and totally ignored. In a recent article, journalist Stéphane Baillargeon highlighted a little-known reality: that of “precarious intellectuals”, hyperqualified, experienced professionals with diplomas, contract employees, often part-time. Research professionals (PPR) belong to this category.
PPRs are the fourth wheel in the coach of university research. The dominant paradigm is that research is carried out by the student/professor duo, to which are sometimes added postdoctoral researchers. But, who has ever heard the term professional research? However, the PPRs actively participate in the development of university research in Quebec and support each of the three other players.
PPRs have high-level training, hold a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate, or even a post-doctorate. Although the turnover rate is high, they work for several years within teams and research centres. They thus represent promoters and the receptacle of the expertise and know-how developed within the research teams. They are rightly considered as “the memory of the laboratories”.
Their training and experience allow them to contribute enormously to knowledge development, innovation, the development of research protocols and the writing of grant applications. They manage equipment and infrastructure, and participate in the training of the student community: from the preparation of samples to the publication of results, through the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data.
Despite this contribution, which is as important as it is ignored, the PPRs have precarious jobs. This situation results mainly from the method of funding research. PPRs are paid on grants and research awards which, by definition, are fixed term. Most employment contracts have terms of one year or less. The PPRs therefore constantly live with a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads: the end and the non-renewal of the subsidy.
Despite this instability, some of the PPRs somehow end up having a career. As you can imagine, the working conditions make their life complicated. It can thus be difficult to obtain a mortgage loan to buy a house – even after 15 years of regular work – simply because your employment contract is for three months… on mental health.
Not only are PPRs unknown to the general public and decision-makers, but they are also little recognized by their own institution. PPRs do not always have representatives on university committees and decision-making bodies. Their contribution to research is also not officially attested. Apart from being co-authors of the scientific articles to which they contribute, their scientific authorship is regularly overlooked.
Are we going to continue for a long time to allow these pitiful and unfair conditions to endure for one of the four pillars of university research? It is the quality of university research that is at stake.