Restaurant: reduced prices for early career scientists at the Institut Pasteur

Ensuring fair treatment at the Institut Pasteur and providing practical support for younger staff members are two key priorities for senior management.
 
With the agreement of the senior management team, and in close collaboration with the Department of Education, the Human Resources Department and the International Affairs Department, the decision has been taken to harmonize meal prices at the company restaurant for all early career scientists on campus*.
 
In practice, starting on February 1, OREX PhD students without a grant from their primary affiliation, students at the Institut Pasteur Education Center and interns on the Calmette and Yersin Program within the Pasteur Network will be charged the same (more advantageous) prices as those currently charged to PhD students under an Institut Pasteur contract.
 
This decision will rectify the imbalances between different categories of early career scientists and encourage equal treatment among all Institut Pasteur staff at a time of particularly high inflation. It is part of an ongoing proactive strategy to improve the quality of working life and working conditions at the Institut Pasteur, and it also reflects the policy to improve the attractiveness of the institution.
 

Interview: Three questions to Monica Sala, Director of the Education Department
 

 

 

What circumstances, both general and more specific, guided this decision?

This decision is based on fairness towards young doctoral students, support for researchers in training, and the need to adapt to the inflationary economic context, which is particularly pressing in Paris. It also reflects Institut Pasteur's strong commitment, including its financial commitment, to opening up to and welcoming international scientists, particularly from the Pasteur Network.
 
What were the key stages and who was involved in implementing this reform?

This reform was initiated and orchestrated by the Education Department, with the support of the General Management, in close collaboration with the Human Resources Department (Pierre Galopin) and the International Affairs Department (Francesca Dorrel). It is a direct response to the numerous complaints from beneficiaries, reporting excessive and disparate rates within the same staff category. This reform provides a concrete and immediate solution to their concerns.
 
 
Which strong Pasteurian values are reflected in (or are you upholding with) this initiative?

This reform responds to the values anchored in the Pasteurian spirit, such as fairness, listening, sharing and quality of welcome, values which are fully reflected in the new management.
 

 

Testimonials

 

 

Jeanne Pascard, PhD student at the Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Oncogenic Viruses (EPVO) unit - UMR 3569

As a doctoral student, I find this financial aid very welcome, especially since the price of meals has risen. I eat lunch at the company restaurant almost every day, and for me it's an essential moment of sharing with my colleagues. So for me, this harmonization of prices is a helping hand on a daily basis, alleviating my expenses, particularly in view of the cost of living and a tight budget.

 

Ines Hilal, Calmette and Yersin trainee, antibody engineering core facility

This new approach enables Pasteur Network members who come to do their internship under the Calmette & Yersin program to reduce their canteen admission fees by more than half. If before they couldn't afford to eat there, now they can.

What's more, the time spent socializing outside the laboratory is invaluable for strengthening links with the team. For trainees, this is also the case, and being able to eat with colleagues in the canteen will make their mobility experience more complete.

 

 

* In the event of a problem, please contact:

poledocts@pasteur.fr (doctorantes/doctorants)

enseignement@pasteur.fr (élèves du centre)

p4p@pasteur.fr (Calmette and Yersin)