Short Term Scientific Mission
Information to new applicants: due to closing of our action this year, no STSMs can be submitted any more (updated 19.3.2010).
Introduction to STSM
Aim: To contribute to the scientific objectives of COST Action D42.
To carry out measurements or to use methods not available in house.
Target group: Young scientists/specialists
Countries: From one COST D42 member country to another1
Duration: Between 5 days and 3 months
Financing: Fixed grant for travel (max. 300 Euro) and daily allowance (60 to 90 Euro per day) - typically around 1000 Euro, maximum 2500 Euro
Open call: Last application should be submitted by 31 March 2010.
STSMs need to be finished before 31 May 2010.
Detailed information is available from the STSM guidelines: http://www.cost.esf.org/about_cost/cost_stories/Short-Term-Scientific-Missions
The steps to be taken before the STSM:
1. Applicant prepares a 1-2 pages research proposal. At the end of the proposal, the following text is included:
In the name of the host institution, ……. (insert the name of the host institution), the undersigned … (insert the name of the host scientist) invites …… (insert the name of the applicant) to undertake the proposed STSM within the COST D42 action. The mission will take place between ….. (insert dates).
…. (name of the host scientist)
…. (signature of the host scientist)
…. Name of the host institution
In the name of the home institution, ……. (insert the name of the home institution), the undersigned … (insert the name of the senior scientist) supports the proposed STSM to be undertaken by …… (insert the name of the applicant) within the COST D42 action.
…. (name of the home scientist)
…. (signature of the home scientist)
…. Name of the home institution
2. The proposal is sent to the host institution to obtain the required invitation to undertake the STSM.
3. Applicant registers at http://www.cost.esf.org/stsm and downloads the registration pdf file.
4. The applicant sends the application consisting of the proposal, approved by the host and the home institution, registration file and a CV by email to the STSM coordinator Ira Rabin (rabin@fhi-berlin.mpg.de) and the MC chair (john.havermans@tno.nl). The documents should be submitted 6 weeks prior to scheduled mission. The mission should take place no later than 45 days after the next published deadline had passed.
Evaluation
The COST D42 assessment panel (Ira Rabin, John Havermans and Annemie Adriaens) will make the scientific and budgetary assessment and decision of the application. The following criteria are adopted:
relevance to the COST D42 action
quality of the proposal
The decisions and assessments regarding all STSM applications will be reported at the next MC meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Cost office acceptance letter
The COST Office (or the administrative Institute) will send the grantee an acceptance letter in which the grantee is informed about:
a) the approval of the STSM and;
b) the level of the financial grant given.
The grantee has to return this acceptance letter with his/her signature prior to the mission. The grantee will receive a payment request form at the same time.
After the STSM
After completion of the STSM the grantee is required to submit a short scientific report about the visit to the Host and MC chair (or the Action’s STSM coordinator) within 4 weeks after his/her stay.
It should contain the following information:
Purpose of the visit;
Description of the work carried out during the visit;
Description of the main results obtained;
Future collaboration with host institution (if applicable);
Projected publications/articles resulting or to result from the STSM (if applicable);
Confirmation by the host institute of the successful execution of the mission;
Other comments (if any).
Payment by the Cost Office
The COST Office or the grant holder will execute the payment of the fixed grant directly to the grantee or the organizing institute as requested in the application after receipt of the following documents:
- Notice of completion by the Management Committee;
- Completed Payment request form (sample forms available in Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) http://www.cost.esf.org/about_cost/cost_stories/Short-Term-Scientific-Missions guidelines.
- Summary of scientific report (maximum 1 page)