SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS (STSMs)

6th CALL FOR STSMs - APPLICATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 9, 2015.

Call opening: September 14, 2015
Deadline for the applications: October 9, 2015
Decision and notification: October 18, 2015

One of the most important objectives of the Action is to enhance the collaboration in the field of String Theory by providing opportunities throughout each year to undertake Short-Term Scientific Missions (Exchange Visits).

These are predominantly aimed at Early Stage Researchers (less than 8 years from PhD) within the network, with particular attention to female scientists.  They are aimed at strengthening ties amongst network members, fostering knowledge transfer and enabling researchers to promote new ideas, skills or techniques. They involve visiting another country in the COST network and/or hosting a researcher from another COST country.

Duration:                                       

STSMs are minimum one week (5 working days), maximum 90 days  (maximum 180 days only for Early Stage Researchers), to be entirely carried out within a single grant period and before the Action’s end- date.

When are the calls?                                                         

The first call was launched in October 2013. Currently, the 4th call was opened on January 26, 2015, and it will close on February 15, 2015. There will be two calls per year and the list of open and past calls will be provided here.

Who can apply?                                                          

Applicants should normally be engaged in a program of research as a postgraduate student or postdoctoral fellow and/or be employed in an institution of a COST Country which has accepted the Memorandum of Understanding and is actively participating in the COST Action.

Important: The Applicant is responsible for contacting the Action Member of the chosen host institution to obtain an agreement letter before submitting her/his application.

As STSM’s are not to be considered as employments, grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security and pension matters for the duration of the visit.
The home and the host institution can be public or private. Presently, a STSM may only be approved from a home institution in a COST participating country to a host institution in a COST participating country or to a formally approved host institution in a non-COST country .

Financial Support :

A grant usually covers travel and subsistence. The financial support is a contribution for a STSM and may not necessarily cover all the costs. The financial contribution for a STSM will be a fixed grant based on the Applicant's budget request and the evaluation of the application by the STSM assessment committee. Typical amounts are 60-90 EUR for the daily allowance (max 160 EUR) and 300 EUR for the travel expenses (max 500 EUR). The total of a STSM shall not exceed EUR 2 500 (EUR 3 500 for Early Stage Researchers with a stay longer than 3 months). For details, see the rules for reimbursement in the COST Vademecum (Part B) - Grant System.

Application Procedure and Assessment

Before the STSM                                                              

In order to receive a STSM grant, the applicant must

:

• Step 1- Obtain the written agreement of the host institution, before submitting an application
• Step 2 - Complete the online application form. The information required essentially includes a Title, applicant’s details, host’s details, visit work plan and budget.
• Step 3- Send the completed file as e-mail attachment together with the necessary supporting documents (CV, full work plan, list of publications, motivation letter, letter of support from the home institution etc.) to the STSM host institution and to the STSM Coordinator (Dr Anna Ceresole, stringtheoryuniverse@to.infn.it) 

Assessment of the STSM and Grant Letter:
The STSM Committee (Dr. A. Ceresole, Prof. E. Kiritsis, Prof. R. Gregory, Prof. D. Lust) will arrange the scientific and budgetary assessment of the applications considering the Action objectives and define an acceptable funding level. The most important criteria of assessment is scientific quality, how effectively the STSM will contribute to the scientific aims of Action MP1210, together with geographical distribution and gender promotion.

Once approved by the STSM Committee, the Grant Holder needs to receive the approval and then send a Grant Letter generated from e-COST to the applicant, informing of the approval of the STSM and
 the level of the financial grant given. 
The Applicant has to return this acceptance letter with her/his signature.


After the STSM:

The grantee is required to submit a short scientific report to the host institution (for information) and to the STSM coordinator for approval within 30 days after the end date of the STSM, containing:

• Purpose of the STSM;
• Description of the work carried out during the STSM;
• Description of the main results obtained;
• Future collaboration with the host institution (if applicable);
• Foreseen publications/articles resulting from the STSM (if applicable);
• Confirmation by the host institution of the successful execution of the STSM;
• Other comments (if any).

Examples of Travel Reports)
The failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days will effectively cancel the grant.

The MC Chair (or the STSM coordinator) is responsible for approving the scientific report and informing the Grant Holder that the STSM has been successfully accomplished.

After receipt of the approval by email, the Grant Holder will execute the payment of the grant. Note that NO ADVANCED PAYMENTS are possible.

 Publications resulting from STSM activities should acknowledge COST MP1210 for support. An electronic copy must be sent to the STSM Coordinator.

Further information and rules available at COST Vademecum Short Term Scientific Missions. Please see the COST Vademecum for the special rules for Reciprocal STSM involving South Africa.