One of the COST networking tools is Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs), which allow scientists to learn from an institution or laboratory in another COST country – a concept of particular interest to young scientists (PhD students, Post-docs).
STSMs can vary from one week to three months and up to six months for Early Career Investigators (ECI, < PhD+ 8 years of experience). Applicants must be engaged in a research programme in an institution from a COST country participating in the COST Action. The host institution must be a COST country or a non-COST institution officially participating in the COST Action, https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA17111/#tabs|Name:overview. The average contribution for a mission is a fixed grant based on the applicant’s budget request and the decision from STSM committee (five researchers from the Core Group of the Action). It will normally not exceed EUR 2500 for PhD students and EUR 3500 for Early Career Investigators (ECI, < PhD+ 8 years of experience).
The application must be performed online, https://e-services.cost.eu/STSM. For full eligibility criteria please check the Vademecum available at https://www.cost.eu/cost-actions/cost-actions-networking-tools/. The selection of successful STSM applicants will be done so in consideration of the scientific scope of the proposed mission and how the mission can support the Action in achieving its scientific objectives. There should be special considerations made by the Action MC with respect to supporting COST policies on promoting gender balance, enabling Early Career Investigators (ECI), broadening geographical inclusiveness.
We are now launching the first call for STSMs. Applicants should apply until 18th February of 2019. STSMs for this first grant period should be performed until first week of April of 2019.
Researchers across Europe are working together taking advantage of this instrument to show impressive results in a short period of time. Therefore, the STSM coordinator of CA17111 strongly encourages you to apply and benefit from such an experience.
Kind regards,
Margarida Fortes (STSM coordinator of CA17111)
amfortes@fc.ul.pt
