General Rules

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) are exchange visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, training of young researchers and fostering collaboration between individuals through general activities of Working Groups. A number of STSMs will be financed each year for exchange of technologies and training between labs in different member states. An STSM should specifically contribute to the scientific development of the DYNALIFE COST Action, whilst at the same time allowing those partaking in the missions to learn new techniques, gain access to new knowledge, specific data, instruments and methods not available in their own institutions.

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Who Can Apply

STSM applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• Engaged in an official research program as a PhD student or postdoctoral fellow

• Employed by, or affiliated to, an institution, organization or legal entity that has within its remit a clear association with performing research. 

 Both Home and Host Institutions should be in a country involved in Dynalife COST Action.

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STSM Duration

STSM must have a minimum duration of 5 days and a maximum duration of 90 days. For Early Career Investigators (ECI) the maximum duration can be extended up to 180 days. All STSM need to be carried out in their entirety within a single Grant Period and within the Action’s lifetime.

For the period of the STSM neither the MC, nor the COST Office nor the Grant Holder may be considered as an employer. The grantees must make their own arrangements for all health, social, personal security, taxation and pension matters.

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What Is Needed for Submission

For the submission, we ask for a research/work plan, a letter of invitation from the host institute/researcher, a budget plan and a scientific CV.

An STSM committee will evaluate the proposals within 10 days after the submission deadline.

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Criteria for Evaluation

• Scientific quality and relevance to the Action objectives

• Benefit to applicants and to host institutions, based on expected scientific achievements (publications, planned collaboration on research projects, etc.)

• Balance between WG’s, countries, M/F

Young researchers and applicants from ITC countries for missions will have priority when applicants have similar achievements. Applications from Early Career Investigators (ECI) are welcome.

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

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Awarding Procedure

The Committee suggestions should be approved by the Chair, Vice-chair, and the WG leaders. The grants are awarded by the Chair.

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After the Completion of STSM

One month after the completion of the STSM, a report should be submitted by the grantee and the results should be presented in the next related Action meeting, financed by the action.

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How to Apply for a STSM

1. Ask for Letter of support from the HOME Institution (template can be dowloaded HERE)AND a Letter of acceptance from the HOST Institution stating that the STSM can be performed in the agreed dates (template can be dowloaded HERE)

2. Login to the e-cost system (Create an account if you do not have one)

3. Click on STSM Applications from the menu on the left

4. Create a new STSM request

5. Fill out the details:

a) Give your Home Institution

b) Select our Action number CA21169 (DYNALIFE)

c) Give a Title for the STSM

d) Select the grant period

e) Give the Start and End dates

f) Most importantly fill out the motivation and workplan (max. 2000 words)

• Aim & motivation - Please explain the scientific and/or other motivation for the STSM and what scientific and/or other outcomes you aim to accomplish with the STSM.

• Proposed contribution to the scientific objectives of the Action. Give the WG group number and the appropriate tasks and deliverables your STSM is related to.

• Techniques - Please detail what techniques or equipment you may learn to use, if applicable.

• Planning - Please detail the steps you will take to achieve your proposed aim.

g) Give your bank details

h) Give your HOST details (name, e-mail, institute with address, city and country)

i) Write the amount of support you ask for (separately travel and subsistence) in eur

6. Save the request

7. Upload supporting documents

• The STSM application in pdf format

• Scientific CV with a list of academic publications in pdf format

• Letter of support from the HOME Institution (template can be downloaded) in jpg or pdf format

• Letter of support from the HOST Institution that the STSM can be performed in the agreed dates (Please, specify if the host will provide matching funds) in jpg or pdf format

8. Notify (just in case) the STSM coordinator Dragan Matić (dragan.matic@pmf.unibl.org)

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After Submission of the Application

1. The STSM team will check the application and makes decision from which notification will be sent.

2. If an application is approved:

   • Enjoy the STSM

   • Within 30 days of the return from the STSM, a scientific report should be submitted (template can be downloaded HERE)

   • The host and then the STSM coordinator approve the report

   • After the approval, the payment of the grant will be issued to the given bank account.

   • The applicant name, home and host institutions, period, and the project title will be published on the webpage of the Cost Action CA21169 DYNALIFE.

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