smolaw11 / Getty ImagesThe recent announcement of competitive examinations to fill 814 positions within the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI) and 17 affiliated research institutions has brought a sigh of relief to institution managers and the broader scientific community. But while acknowledging the government’s efforts to address understaffing at federal research institutions by initiating recruitment within the first year of its term, institution managers say the number of new hires is far less than ideal. Although the new vacancies represent a 35% increase over the current 2,354 active employees, they are unlikely to fully replenish the staff lost to retirements, deaths, or resignations after over a decade with no new recruitment. Applications for available vacancies will be accepted in most institutions until early December.
The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which has the highest number of available positions (135 in total), would require 400 new hires solely to fill positions classified as “maximum priority,” according to Oswaldo Duarte Miranda, an aide to the institution’s director. “At present, we have 667 employees with an average age of 55, including 190 who have agreed to remain in exchange for retention bonuses and could retire at any moment. Ten years ago, INPE had 1,005 employees,” he says. A retention bonus is a benefit, equivalent to an employee’s pension contribution, that is awarded to those who decide to continue in active service after becoming eligible for retirement. “The new hires will provide some relief but we will still fall short of the optimal 1,200 employees.”
Several research lines and activities at INPE have been hampered by understaffing. One example is a project established in 1985 to map fire hotspots in Brazil. In addition to the challenges stemming from years of reduced staffing, the project recently suffered a setback with the loss of one of its key researchers, Alberto Setzer, who passed away at the age of 72 in September (see Pesquisa FAPESP issue nº 332). “We have many researchers with over 40 years of service at INPE who have a wealth of knowledge to impart to newcomers. The vacancies that have been opened offer a tremendous opportunity for young researchers,” says Miranda, who is a researcher in the astrophysics division at INPE and himself has 19 years of service.
Out of the total of 814 newly opened vacancies, 100 are at the Central Administration of the MCTI, equally divided among five departments. The remaining 714 positions are distributed across 16 research units affiliated with the MCTI—among them INPE. Vacancies have been opened for 253 new researchers, 265 technologists (with a focus on research applications), and 196 science & technology analysts (working in administrative roles).
Each unit is responsible for defining its own recruiting rules and organizing its selection process, including the formation of expert panels for candidate assessment. As a general rule, only research positions require a doctoral degree. According to the MCTI’s salary table for positions requiring higher-education degrees, monthly salaries range from R$6,662.68 to R$19,586.95 depending on the class (junior, middle I, middle II, middle III, and senior) and type of degree (undergraduate, specialization, master’s, and PhD).
Research units have sought external support to organize competitive examinations, which will take place early next year. INPE, for example, has engaged the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV). Many units have already published their examination notices, coordinating among themselves to avoid coinciding dates. Vacancies for analysts will not require expert panel evaluations, with selections determined through a unified examination organized by the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI).
An opportunity for grant beneficiaries
The Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI) in Campinas (SP) has announced a competitive examination to fill positions primarily for technologists—a total of 46 technologist vacancies have been announced. Another eight openings are offered for analysts and three for researchers. The higher number of technologist positions reflects the institution’s emphasis on applied research in areas such as microelectronics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence. The center is currently staffed by 83 employees, but these are supplemented by 75 grant beneficiaries who perform technical supporting roles within projects. Many of these grant beneficiaries are now preparing to apply for the positions being offered.
“Given that many candidates are already working at CTI, we have decided that the evaluation panels in the second phase of the selection process will mostly be professors and researchers from outside the CTI. We will bring in specialists with the necessary expertise for each position,” says CTI director Jorge Vicente Lopes da Silva, who celebrated 35 years of service at the institution last year. The roles offered align with the CTI’s master plan, which establishes focus areas such as Industry 4.0, advanced life sciences, enabling technologies, and digital government. One of the research areas that has not progressed at the desired pace due to a shortage of personnel is bio-based manufacturing. With the new hires, this research department will now have up to five additional professionals, significantly expanding its current staff.
The Brazilian Center for Physics Research (CBPF) is offering a higher proportion of researcher vacancies—36 compared to 10 technologists and 9 analysts. These positions will nearly double the number of university-level staff, which currently stands at 58 professionals—43 researchers, 12 technologists, and three analysts, who are supported by 33 secondary-level employees and 102 outsourced personnel.
