Law 14/2011, of June 1st, on Science, Technology and Innovation (Science Act) defines the figure of "Research Staff" as those personnel "...who, being in possession of the qualifications required in each case, carry out research activity, understood as the creative work carried out systematically to increase the volume of knowledge, including that relating to human beings, culture and society, the use of this knowledge to create new applications, its transfer and its dissemination.”.

In general terms, the research career in Spain is structured in 3 periods: pre-doctoral training, post-doctoral training and consolidation.

Pre-doctoral stage

The doctorate consists of a first part (a master's degree of 60-120 ECTS credits), which gives access to the research stage of the doctorate. We call the pre-doctoral period the entire process prior to the defence of the doctoral thesis.

The UV, within the framework of the R&D activities carried out by its teaching and research staff, offers opportunities to young graduates from all over the world to start their research careers in prestigious research groups.

Post-doctoral stage

As established in the Science Act, the award of a doctorate degree brings the research staff training stage to an end, and from this point onwards the post-doctoral stage begins, the initial phase of which is aimed at the professional improvement and specialisation of research staff and is usually carried out through mobility processes or temporary employment contracts.

The post-doctoral research phase is of very variable duration, and allows the researcher to acquire sufficient merit to enable them to access a permanent or stable position.

The UV Strategic Plan aims to attract and develop research talent, offering various opportunities for young doctors who wish to join UV research groups on a temporary basis during their post-doctoral training.

Consolidation stage

The Science Act has defined the new contract for access to the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System (SECTI), the main purpose of which is to carry out research tasks aimed at obtaining a high level of professional improvement and specialisation for research personnel, leading to the consolidation of their professional experience.

The most relevant example of this type of contract is the Ramón y Cajal programme, in which the UV participates very actively, offering a certain number of contracts annually.