Short Training Scientific missions

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) are institutional visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, strengthening existing networks and fostering collaboration between individuals. A STSM should specifically contribute to the research coordination and capacity building objectives of the COST Action, whilst at the same time allowing those partaking in the missions to learn new techniques, gain access to specific data, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions/organisations.

THE APPLICANT

FeSBioNet members are invited to submit one or more STSM applications. STSM applicants must be engaged in an official research programme as a PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow or can be employed by, or affiliated to, an institution, organisation or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing research. The applicant needs to be part of an institution located in a country of our Action which has been formally accepted to be part of our Action. The Applicant and its Host must be located in two different countries.

STSM must respect the following criteria: 

1. They must have a minimum duration of 5 days.  
2. They must have a maximum duration of 90 days.
3. STSM need to be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period and always within the Action’s lifetime. 

Specific additional provisions have been made possible to encourage the participation of Early Career Investigators (ECI) in STSM: 

1. The mission must have a minimum duration of 91 days.  
2. The mission must have a maximum duration of 180 days.
3.  STSM performed by ECI need to be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period and always within the Action’s lifetime.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

A STSM Grant is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the Grantee.  The calculation of the financial contribution for each STSM must respect the following criteria: 

•  Up to a maximum of EUR 2500 in total can be afforded to each successful STSM applicant;
• Up to a maximum of EUR 160 per day can be afforded for accommodation and meal expenses.

 For ECIs, the calculation for an increased financial contribution must respect the following criteria: 

• Up to a maximum of EUR 3500 in total can be afforded to ECIs for missions with a duration of between 91 and 180 days;
  Up to a maximum of EUR 160 per day can be afforded for accommodation and meal expenses.

HOW TO APPLY TO STSM 

Eligible STSM applicants must use the online Application Platform (https://eservices.cost.eu/STSM) to register his/her request for an STSM. 

In order to complete your application, please send by email the following documents to the STSM coordinator (Prof. Simone Ciofi Baffoni, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.):

• A letter of invitation from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host institution
• STSM application form as pdf file performed on the online Application Platform
• A motivation letter including a work plan detailing the proposed activities
• A support letter / email from the Home Institution
• A full C.V. (including a list of academic publications - if applicable)

Once the STSM has been completed (within 30 days), the Grantee must submit a scientific report and a host report to the STSM Coordinator. Both reports have to be approved by the Management Committee in order to proceed with the payment of the grant related to your Short Term Scientific Mission. The Grant Holder Institution will carry out the payment to the bank coordinates provided by you in your e-cost profile, upon reception of a copy of these two approved reports.

 EVALUATION CRITERIA

•  The proposed research activities must be relevant for FeSBioNet goals;
• Priorities will be given to longer ECI-STSM and then to shorter ECI-STSM;
• STSMs from Inclusiveness Target Countries will have priority;
• Gender balance issues will be taken into consideration;
• No more than two STSMs per group will be allowed per year;
• A STSM Grant is considered only a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the Grantee.

The results of the application will be communicated to the Applicant by e-mail within 15 days from the application was received. Once approved by the Management Committee, the Grant Holder will send a grant letter generated from e-COST to the applicant.

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