About STSM

What is STSM?

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) are institutional visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, fostering collaboration between individuals. 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. STSMs should be aligned and contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action CA22155 PoTaRCh. 

See the introduction

Who can apply?

STSM applicant can be any person with an e-COST profile. The STSM applicant must specifically contribute to the research coordination and capacity building objectives of the COST Action for which they are submitting a STSM application. 

The STSM applicant:

• is engaged in an official research program as a PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow, or
• must be employed by, or affiliated to, an institution, organization or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing research. 

Applications not granted in the 1st period, can apply for a grant in the next period.

What kind of expenses are covered by STSM funding?

The STSM Mobility does not necessarily cover all expenses related to performing a given mission. The grant is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation, and meal expenses of the grantee.

During this Grant Period this financial contribution for each STSM grant must respect the following criteria:

The STSM applicants must calculate the cost of the visit by themselves. Up to a maximum of EUR 1 500 in total can be awarded to each successful STSM applicant; (E.g. EUR 150 per day for accommodation and meal expenses, travel costs up to EUR 500). Daily amount depends on country.

STSMs must have a minimum duration of 5 calendar days including travel.

The selection of applicants will be based on: 

1. the scientific scope of the STSM application which must support the implementation of the overall scientific objectives of the Action, as described in its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 
2. the applicant’s background and motivation. 
3. priority will be given to PhD students. 
4. other factors will be also considered, such as gender balance, enabling Early Career Investigators (ECI), broadening geographical inclusiveness, and equilibrium between WG.

Important

• The STSM grantee must pay in advance tickets and the cost of the accommodation. 
• Once the activity has ended, the grantee submits the required Report on the outcomes of a Short-Term Scientific Mission in e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the activity or 15 days after the end of the Grant Period, whichever date comes first. Participant must submit the report about STSM main achievements and claim for payment of the approved grant after the STSM performed. This report must be approved by the Host Organiser.

How to apply?

Interested researchers can apply by following the directions provided below and submitting their application and supporting documents on-line via the eCOST platform https://e-services.cost.eu/user/login

The following documents must be uploaded:

• The APPLICATION FORM with the following information:
• Your title of the STSM: 
• Start and end date (within the active Grant Period, i.e., no overlap across two consecutive Grant Periods)
• Budget requested by the applicant;
• Information about the host institution and contact person.
• Confirmation letter of the host on the agreement from the HOST institution in receiving the applicant;
• A motivation letter including a work plan detailing the proposed activities. The work plan should describe goals, description of the work to be carried out by the applicant, expected outcomes and description of the contribution to the Action objectives,
• CV, including a list of academic publications if applicable
• A support letter from the HOME Institution

After selection, the applicants will be notified. In case your application is not granted, new submittal in a next call-in future Grant Periods is allowed.

How to report STSM?

After the completion of the STSM, the applicant must submit a scientific report, which includes information about how the seminar was valuable to the COST Action, what deliverables were produced, and which methods were used.

There must be a clarification of the connection to the Working Group(s) of the Action (WG1, WG2, WG3, WG4 or WG5?) Please find more in MoU.

Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM will effectively cancel the Grant. 

(Please note that the COST Association can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants).