Italian visa n' work permit

[lillbab4]

Hi all,
I did online searches and read posts about Italy visa n work permit, but couldn't get a satisfactory answer to my cousins question. Here it is. Any advice link information will be appreciated.

He is planning to go to Italy (Alps region) as a postdoc (for >2 yrs) after his PhD in USA, he is from Nepal, a country in SouthAsia. After getting accepted there:
a) what kinda of visa should he expect?
b) Will he get a work permit or PR (pemanent residency) after certain years of stay? What factors determine the process?
c) Will he be a student or an employee for the university?

Please provide details and all the other relevant information that is necessary for him to know b4 he will accept an offer. Thanks a lot for your input.