Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs). 2012 open call

 Call for applications for

SHORT TERM SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS

in the frame of COST Action ES1102

“Validating and Integrating Downscaling Methods for Climate Change Research” (VALUE)

Second call 2012 (open call)

The recently launched COST Action VALUE invites applications for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) to be carried out in 2012. STSMs are inter- laboratory exchange visits and aim to strengthen the COST Action by allowing scientists to visit an institution or laboratory in another COST country to foster collaboration and to learn and apply new techniques and methods. We particularly encourage Early Stage Researchers (PhD + 8 years) to profit from this opportunity. Proposed STSMs are eligible for funding if they meet the following requirements:

  1. The STSM should complement the activities in one (or several) of the Action’s working groups and thereby contribute to the scientific objectives of VALUE.

  2. The STSM should have a minimum duration of one week and a maximum duration of 3 months (Early Stage Researchers: maximum duration of 6 months). The STSM has to be finished by 31 December 2012 latest.

  3. The country of the home institution has to be different from that of the proposed host institution. Both countries have to be COST countries (see http://www.cost.eu/about_cost/cost_countries) and have to participate in VALUE. Special conditions apply for reciprocal countries (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina).
  4. Either the home or the host institution (or both) have to be represented in one (or several) of the VALUE working groups.

Approved STSMs will be funded with a maximum of 2500 € (Early Stage Researchers in STSMs longer than 3 months: maximum of 3500 €), consisting of a daily allowance (maximum 90 €/day) and a travel grant (maximum 300 €). The costs should be advanced by the home institution of the applicant. The final STSM grant will be released upon completion of the STSM and submission of a scientific report.

To apply for an STSM please register yourself on https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm and prepare a brief application consisting of

  1. A cover letter, including the motivation of the STSM, the expected outcome(s) and the relevance for VALUE

  2. A confirmation letter of the host institution

  3. A work and budget plan

  4. A scientific CV, including your three most relevant publications (if available).

Please send your applications as a single PDF file to sven.kotlarski@env.ethz.ch and dmaraun@ifm- geomar.de. Applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed at the end of each month by the VALUE Management Committee. Successful applicants will be notified within 5 weeks after submission. Earliest start date for an STSM is 6 weeks after submission.