CRoNoS: Missions

CRoNoS - Short Term Scientific Missions

Short-term scientific missions (STSM) are exchange visits between researchers involved directly or indirectly in the CRoNoS COST Action, allowing scientists to visit an institution or laboratory in another participating COST country. They are aimed at fostering collaboration, sharing new techniques and infrastructure that may not be available in other participants' institutions or laboratories. STSM are intended especially for young researchers.

The selection of candidates will be made on the basis of the CV of the candidates, applications projects/reasons, and considering inclusiveness criteria.

The following limitations have to be taken into account:

Minimun duration of 5 days.
Maximum duration of 90 days.
STMS need to be carried out entirely within a single Grant Period (1st May to 30th April) and always withing the Action's life time.

Early Career Investigators (ECI) - special duration conditions

Minimun duration of 91 days.
Maximum duration of 180 days.

Financial Support

An STSM grant is a fixed financial contribution which takes into consideration the budget request of the applicant and the outcome of the evaluation of the STSM application as determined by the Core Management Group. STSM Grants do not necessarily cover all expenses related to performing a given mission. The Grant is a contribution to the overall travel, accommodation and meal expenses of the Grantee.

Typically, the amount awarded for a STSM will be between 60-90 EUR per day (depending on the duration and the location) and 300 EUR for travel. The total of a STSM shall not exceed 2500 EUR or 3500 EUR for Early Career Investigators.

Current STMS Call

Deadline for submission of application: Open call.
Deadline for ending the STSM: 30 April 2019
Action Number: IC1408

Access to the Online STMS Tool

Applicants must send the form generated by the online application as attachment by e-mail together with all the documents he/she would like to submit to support the application (full CV, detailed work plan, motivation, etc.) to the:

Host (who will send his agreement to host the applicant to the MC Chair)
MC Chair for evaluation and approval

Please note that the CV, the application and the connection with CRoNoS will be considered for evaluation.

STSM - Final steps

Within four weeks of the completion of a STSM the researcher is required to submit a letter from the Host confirming the STSM dates and work done and a short scientific report to the CRoNoS Chair outlining the research activity undertaken and research outputs and outcomes. The documents must also be uploaded at the COST online tool. The grant will be effective once this information is received and approved. The scientific report should contain the following information:

Purpose of the STSM
Description of research conducted during the STSM
Description of the main results achieved
Outline future collaboration with host institution (if applicable)
Foreseen research outputs (publications/presentations) arising from STSM (if applicable)

Additionally, the researcher will also be expected to deliver a short presentation about the STSM to their CRoNoS Working Group (if applicable).