Researchers at TCD are undervalued says report

Trinity College Dublin is seriously at odds with the Government's strategy to transform Ireland into a knowledge-based economy in its treatment of contract researchers, a report to be published next week finds.

The report, Contract Researchers in Trinity: A Frontline Perspective, which will be launched by science expert Leo Enright tomorrow, says that unless changes are made researchers from abroad will not be attracted to work in the college and the current cohort of researchers will be lost.

Based on questionnaires filled in by half the 320 contract researchers contacted, it warns of low morale and finds an "overwhelming 81 per cent of respondents were 'dissatisfied' or 'very dissatisfied' with their job security. Some 69 per cent were dissatisfied with their career prospects."

Some 377 contract researchers work at Trinity College and contact details for 320 were found by the authors of the report, the Trinity Research Staff Association. "A majority of survey respondents expressed dissatisfaction and frustration with a number of entitlement issues," say the authors.

Among these, a lack of pension provision was described as "the overriding grievance". Also there was a general uncertainty regarding parental leave, sick pay and salary increments.

The report finds 46 per cent were dissatisfied with their salary and 57 per cent were on a salary of €44,000 or less.

"Trinity College has no observable policy on salary scales for contract researchers . . . There is no consistency in salary between individuals who have similar qualifications or experience."

There is a lack of career development structure for these workers, continues the report. It says "attention must be paid to the provision of continual professional skill development, as is the case in other universities.

"There is a pressing need for greater career advice on positions in both academic and non-academic sectors."

It says there is a lack of recognition for non-research related duties such as administration, lab management, mentoring, teaching and writing grant applications. Many contract researchers "believed that they did not get adequate recognition for their contribution to research . . . and the funding they brought into college. Allied to the absence of a structured career path, this state of affairs has given rise to low morale among many researchers."

It finds researchers felt disengaged from the college's decision-making. "Despite their position as frontline researchers in a university that claims to be research-led, researchers have very little opportunity to participate in the decision-making process."