Nyhet -
"I rather fight harder for a 3-year salary than get a 2-year stipend more easily"
”I rather fight harder for a 3-year salary than get a 2-year stipend more easily.” Iva Filipovic will apply for SSMF´s new postdoctoral grant.
Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning, SSMF, is now offering better conditions by transforming stipends into salaries and extending the funding period. The application period for SSMF´new postdoc grant is open right now and Iva Filipovic is one of those who intends to apply for the grant.
She did her PhD in England and currently she is doing a postdoc at Karolinska Institutet with focus on a subset of immune cells. So far, Iva Filipovic has been supported by stipends so in fact she never has had a proper salary.
She welcomes SSMF’s recent changes to transform funding for postdocs from scholarships to salaries with all social benefits included. Even if the paycheck in the end of the month will not be much larger, the benefits are obvious - paid sick and parental leave, pension funds, right to unemployment support and the possibility to join a trade union. Last but not least, finally the possibility to get a bank loan for a flat.
–Being a postdoc has insecurities on its own, and having the benefits of a salary means that I could relax a little and focus on the science rather than worry about basic things. And also finally feeling like a grown up person who contributes to society.
The second major change of the postdoctoral funding is to extend the funding period from two to three years, extending the possibilities to lay the foundation for an independent scientific career.
– Wrapping up projects quickly is not how big discoveries are made. I have a lot of ideas but it has been hard to pursue them because of time pressure.
As a consequence to the changes of postdoctoral funding, SSMF will finance slightly fewer postdoc positions every year. But the potential increase in competition does not scare Iva Filipovic.
–I rather fight harder for a 3-year salary than get a 2-year stipend more easily. I would be honored to get a position from SSMF and am looking forward to applying.
Read more and apply for the new postdoc grant:
