Short-term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

What are STSMs ?

Short-term scientific missions (STSM) are exchange visits between researchers involved in a COST Action, allowing scientists to visit an institution or laboratory in another COST Member state participating to EsSENce. These scientific missions may last up to six months. Their aim is to foster collaboration in excellent research infrastructures and share new techniques that may not be available in a participant’s home institution or laboratory.
The countries participating to esSENce are listed here:  here.
More information can be found in the Annotated Rules for COST Actions .

How to Apply?

Calls for Short Term Scientific Missions applications are periodically opened and published on this website. In response to a call, applications are first submitted on the e-COST website: https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm.

The following documents must also be e-mailed to the responsible for STSM, Dr Stefan Stanciu :
• document generated by e-COST,
• a letter of invitation from a researcher affiliated to the Host institution,
• a motivation letter including a work plan detailing the proposed activities,
• a support letter from the Home Institution,
• a CV, including a list of academic publications if applicable.

Applications must be eligible (see Annotated Rules for COST Actions) and in line with the Action research topics. The applications will be ranked by the STSM responsible together with the WG leaders based on:
• scientific quality
• feasibility of the approach proposed,
• benefit to the development of the COST Action
The selection will follow the COST policies on inclusiveness (gender, age, geography).

The final ranking will be approved by the Action Chair and Co-Chair.
The researchers who applied to the call will receive the results of the selection from the STSM responsible.
The selected researchers should wait for the official invitation from the Grant Holder before booking any travel arrangements.

Important note: The selected grantees must ensure to provide a document regarding the Avoidance of Double Taxation, in order to avoid a 20% withholding on their calculated daily allowance amount. This document must be filled in, signed and stamped from the tax office of the grantees’ country