Please note that the procedures are adapted to take into account the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rules for application
- General rules are described in the COST Vademecum. Here the specific rules, as decided by the Action are outlined.
- Due to COVID-19, the duration of this Grant Period (GP) has been extended to October 2021. STSMs have a maximum duration of two months, all STSMs have to be finalised prior to 30 September 2021.
- STSM grants are a fixed contribution based on the budget requested by the applicant and the evaluation of the application by the STSM Committee. This grant will not cover all expenses; it is intended only as a contribution to the travel and subsistence costs of the participant.
- The calculation of this contribution for a STSM is based on the following rules:
- The COST Action 17133 decided to offer a maximum EUR 1,700 in total (including travel expenses) to the grantee for two months. Shorter stays will be reimbursed proportionally less.
- Up to EUR 500 may be attributed for travel expenses.
- Please note the grant will only be paid to the grantee after the STSM has been completed and the STSM report, which is submitted by the grantee, has been approved by Chair and the STSM coordinator.
Application procedures for an STSM, adapted to COVID-19
The host and the applicant should agree on the details of the proposed STSM and submit the application jointly for pre-approval to the STSM coordinator.
The application should contain:
- A letter of motivation by the applicant with a detailed explanation about how the STSM will contribute to the Action CA17133 aims, and which deliverable it supports.
- Full work plan (between 2-5 pages) with the planned publication resulting from STSM
- Letter of agreement by the host scientist to accept and supervise the applicant to the STSM host institution. This letter should also contain a brief outline of the COVID-19 safety measures at the hosting institute and an outline of the current situation in international travel for the two countries (exit-entrance rules, testing & quarantine rules).
Once the application is pre-approved you can proceed to the online application. To complete the online application form you have to log in into e-COST and click on the STSM application tab (https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm/apply/new). Note that the on-line system only has room for abbreviated CVs and work plans. The on-line registration tool will create a formal STSM application file, which the applicant can download.
Send the finished application files also as an e-mail attachment to the STSM Coordinator Ranka Junge (ranka.junge@zhaw.ch) and in cc to ca17133@boku.ac.at
After the STSM
The grantee is required to submit a short scientific report to the host scientist, the Action Chair and the STSM coordinator for approval within 30 days after the end date of the STSM. The report (a template is provided in the eCOST system) contains:
- Cover page with applicant’s name, affiliation address, e-mail, name of the host scientist and institute
- 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;
- A letter of confirmation by the host scientist of the successful execution of the STSM;
- Other comments (if any).
In addition, the grantee should send the following information directly to the STSM coordinator. This information will be used to publish the results of the STSM on the Action Website.
- Abstract of the STSM (max 300 words)
- A picture of herself (for example during the field work)
- 5 lines describing why this STSM was beneficial for the Action and to which Working Group it contributed.
The Action Chair and STSM coordinator are responsible for approving the scientific report. The failure to submit the scientific report PLUS additional information within 30 days will effectively cancel the grant. Once approved, payment of the STSM grant will be made by bank-to-bank transfer to the grantee.
The most important criterion of assessment is how effectively the STSM will contribute to the scientific aims of Action CA17133.
NOTE: For the period of the STSM, neither the Grant Holder of the Action, Management Committee of the Action, etc., nor the COST Office may be considered as the employer of the grantee, and grantees must make their own arrangements for all health insurance, travel insurance, social security, personal security and pension matters as may be needed and appropriate to the grantee.