Submit an STSM application

SEAWHEAT is pleased to announce its 1st call for applications to participate in Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs). The missions are intended for Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) to contribute to the development of their career goals and the production of COST Action deliverables.

Deadline for submitting applications: 15 February 2022.                                                                          

The missions are programmed to take place between 15 March 2022 and 30 September 2022.       

The STSMs must contribute to the scientific objectives of one or more SEAWHEAT Working Groups (WGs). All applicants are encouraged to carefully consider the objectives of SEAWHEAT and to apply them according to the STSM guidelines (see here).                       

Background:

STSMs are aimed at supporting individual mobility, strengthening existing researcher networks and fostering collaborations between scientists through goal-orientated visits to a research institution or laboratory in another Participating COST Country[1]. Proposed STSMs should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action, while allowing applicants to acquire new technical competencies and gain access to specific instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions. 

STSM applicants must be engaged in an official research program as PhD Students or postdoctoral fellows or be employed by, or affiliated with, an Institution or legal entity with a clear and active research mandate. The institutions/organisations where applicants pursue their main line of research are considered to be host institutions. Host institutions will be responsible for providing the predefined infrastructure capacity and knowledge support for the grant beneficiaries to complete the proposed STSM. Consequently, applicants are encouraged to initiate early consultations with host institute PIs and discuss with them the scope of proposed STSM research and the capacity to carry out the work at the host institution.

STSMs must respect the following criteria:

  • Must have a minimum duration of 5 calendar days that includes travel.
  • Must be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period and within the Action’s lifetime

Financial support available:

A STSM grant is a fixed financial contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the grantee. It takes into consideration the budget request of the applicant and the evaluation of the STSM application by the delegated reviewers. STSM Grants do not necessarily cover all expenses related to undertaking a given mission. However, other expenses non related to the above may be eligible.

The calculation of the financial contribution for each STSM respect the following criteria:

  • Up to a maximum of € 4000 in total is granted to each successful applicant
  • Up to a maximum of € 160 per diem can be reimbursed for accommodation and meal expenses.

Realistic budget planning will be a key component of proposal evaluation. Gender, geography, ESR criteria and qualifications of the applicant will also be taken into due consideration.

Applications should be in line with the Action’s objectives and scientific activities as stated in COST Action CA20106 Memorandum of Understanding (https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA20106/)

How to apply:

         In order to apply for an STSM, the candidate should prepare the application as follows:

  • Obtain the written agreement from the host institution, stating that the STSM applicant can perform the activities detailed in the STSM work plan on the agreed dates.
  • Obtain a letter of support from the home institution.
  • Prepare a two-page project proposal, describing the foreseen activities, following the classical scheme: Objectives, State-of-the-Art, Project workplan and Gantt chart, Deliverables (timebound).
  • Plan the Mission duration and provide a budget breakdown – including accommodation, travel expenses, per diem.
  • Provide a full CV, including list of applicant’s publications.
  • Complete the online application form (see https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm) and upload all the requested documents.

The ranking criteria are as follows:

  • Scientific excellence and novelty of the proposed Mission.
  • Feasibility of the approach and realistic planning of the application.
  • Benefit of the STSM (i.e. added-value for a) the applicant, b) the host and home institutions, and c) the SEAWHEAT COST Action)

Application approval and payment procedures are managed through the e-COST platform, and are explained in detail in the COST Rules (not yet online). Detailed information on eligibility, evaluation and selection, financial support, and grant payment procedures can be found in the rules.