BioSens Institute staff strike over new director appointment

Employees at the BioSens Institute in Novi Sad, a center for developing advanced artificial intelligence and biosensor technologies for agricultural modernization, staged a one-hour warning strike. The protest was triggered by a management board session that resulted in the dismissal of the acting director.

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Cvijanović has an official record for misconduct in the Management Board, and she doesn't have the qualifications to be a director; she hasn't led any international projects, which is a serious oversight.

Marko Panić, president of the BioSens Institute's union, stated that the management board removed acting director Snežana Pajović and appointed Dušanka Cvijanović, a board member, to the position. Panić asserted that Cvijanović lacks the necessary qualifications for the role, citing a "record of misconduct" within the management board and a lack of experience leading international projects. The union is awaiting the Provincial government's reaction before deciding on further actions.

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We think all this is happening because Snežana Pajović's integrity was strong enough - she took a clear stance that there are personnel solutions here, 14 excellent scientists who are among the top 10 percent ranked in their field. Her positive stance in the sessions clearly bothered the president, Sandra Stojković.

Panić expressed concerns that Cvijanović's leadership would be detrimental to the institute, suggesting that Pajović's dismissal stemmed from her firm stance on personnel matters and her advocacy for 14 outstanding scientists who rank among the top 10% in their fields. He believes Pajović's positive approach likely clashed with the board president, Sandra Stojković.

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I don't expect much from the Provincial government, which must approve this appointment because, as I assessed, the president of the Management Board, Sandra Stojković, whose dismissal the union also seeks, carried out the change of the acting director in agreement with the founder, i.e., the Vojvodina government.

The union anticipates little support from the Provincial government, which must approve the appointment. Panić suggested that Stojković, whom the union also seeks to remove, coordinated the director change with the provincial government. Despite this, Panić holds out hope that the Provincial government might reject the board's decision and allow Pajović's mandate to be extended. Since Stojković took over the management board, over 10 employees have left the institute, and more departures are expected due to the perceived instability.

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I don't believe the Provincial government will oppose all of this; I simply think they are doing it together and their moves are coordinated. There is hope that the Provincial government will challenge this decision from the Management Board session and that the initial plan with acting director Snežana Pajović will continue – that is, that her mandate will be extended until the end.