Erik Amnå about Ilaria Pitti: collaboration that may open international doors
She has contributed with new knowledge about young people’s social engagement. The collaboration with her can open doors in an international context. Professor Erik Amnå is exceptionally pleased with the time Ilaria Pitti, visiting research fellow from Italy, has spent at Örebro University.
Erik Amnås’s advice
First of all, keep in mind that you are getting a new research colleague to your group – with essentially no overhead.
If you are already involved in a network, look around thoroughly for potential candidates. If you do not have the right contacts, try to get them by attending conferences, meetings, workshops and the like.
Plan the application thoroughly and timely. The time it takes to describe the research idea, to get available data, to list relevant literature, etc. should not be underestimated. Information about the University and campus is also very important.
Make sure to meet the person you are going to coach. It is not enough to recruit a researcher with an impressive CV, the chemistry needs to be right.
Be as realistic as possible in your application. Do not promise too much.
She is doing research in the area of political sociology and has been in Örebro since the autumn 2016. She came after the University received funding from the European Commission fund and its Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships (MSCA-IF). Essentially, her entire two-year stay at Örebro University is EU funded.
This year, 12 September is the last day to apply for MSCA-IF, which is a part of the EU’s extensive research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020. On 7 May, the Grants Office organised a seminar about the application process and the advantages of an international researcher exchange like this.
Boosted them both
At the seminar, both Ilaria Pitti and her supervisor Erik Amnå participated. They talked about a collaboration that has boosted them both.
“Just as I’d hoped, my time here at Örebro University has helped me develop, and I’m a better researcher today. And I’ve strengthened my CV greatly too. So, coming to Örebro has proven to be the best thing I could have done,” says Ilaria Pitti.
Erik Amnå, Professor of Political Science, has in his research focused on young people and their social engagement. Ilaria Pitti has the same specialisation. During her time at Örebro University, she has studied political activist groups on the left in Malmö and Bologna.
Young people who carry out actions on the border between what is legal and illegal – like unauthorised demonstrations, blocking traffic, but also giving food and shelter to refugees and others in need.
“Ilaria has lived very close to the activists. In that way, she has gathered very interesting data that we in our research group could never have acquired with our measuring tools, which are of a quantitative design, like surveys. She has been exceptionally productive and written very many articles. Later this year, her a book she has written will also be published,” says Erik Amnå.
Breaking new ground
He explains that there is very little research on this type of social engagement.
“The topic is under-researched, so what Ilaria is doing is breaking new ground.”
The collaboration between him, Ilaria Pitti and the others in their researcher group has worked out particularly well. She has acquired in-depth knowledge in her subject area, learnt new working methods and expanded her network. At the same time, Ilaria Pitti has contributed in a variety of ways – with her dedication, her knowledge and her way of working.
“Ilaria’s research has deepened our understanding of young people’s social engagement. Moreover, the fact that every new colleague enriches our daily lives is especially true when it comes to such an incredibly nice person as Ilaria. It’s not insignificant that people harmonise with each other” says Erik Amnå.
What has her stay meant for the University as a whole?
“In the bigger scheme of things – there is a chance that our name will be spread with esteem and respect in important research networks around the world. We may very well be welcomed into other international projects as a result. Closer to home – our researchers and research groups at the University have got new impulses, new theoretical and methodological knowledge,” says Erik Amnå.
His primary task has been to coach Ilaria Pitti towards an international research career.
“The aim of the Marie Skłodowska -Curie Actions is all about developing the next generation of research leaders.”
Ilaria Pitti was given the opportunity to attend an in-depth course in statistics, which has helped her be better equipped to process and interpret comparative data. However, the University has been unable to provide her with an academic leadership course as proposed. Erik Amnå solved this by procuring equivalent instruction at the University of Sydney, Australia. Ilaria Pitti will travel there this summer.
“We didn’t have any academic leadership courses in Örebro that she was able to participate in. This is an area where there are some lessons to be learnt. If we want to attract researchers of this calibre, then we must be more accommodating in letting them join in on these types of training courses.
Will leave in August
Ilaria Pitti will leave Örebro in August, and Erik Amnå is very pleased with how things worked out during her time here and the support he received.
“I think that the University and the Grants Office have supported me well during the entire process, which makes you want to do it again.”
Text: Mattias Frödén
Translation: Jerry Gray