Short-term scientific missions (STSMs) consist of a research visit to a host organization located in a different
country than the country of affiliation of a Researcher or Innovator for a specific work package to be carried out
and for a determined period of time (please read the COST ANNOTATED RULES).
These Missions are aimed at strengthening the existing networks by allowing scientists to go to an institution or
laboratory in another COST Country to foster collaboration, to learn a new technique or to take measurements
using instruments and/or methods not available in their own institution/laboratory. STSM grants cannot be spent
on the preparation of proposals for funding from any source.
Note that the aim of any STSM shall be to contribute to the scientific objectives of MultiplEYE!
IMPORTANT: THIS IS AN OPEN CALL, WITH A LIST OF POTENTIAL HOST INSTITUTIONS!
This means that the candidate can contact a host from the list, propose the plan for the visit, and ask for their support to host them. The candidate can also contact any member of the Action as a potential host. However, the priority will be given to candidates whose STSM plan is in accordance with the focus of this call (see below).
Applications from candidates who can bring the eye-tracking device from their own institution to the host institution without an eye-tracker and collect data for the language of the host institution are especially welcome!
Please note that the experiment has been prepared only for the Eyelink devices so far, so this applies only to Eyelink eye-trackers for now.
THE FOCUS OF THIS SPECIFIC CALL FOR STSMs:
- The applicant intends to contribute to the collection of the MultiplEYE Eyetracking-While-Reading
Corpus (see https://multipleye.eu/core-data-collection/). This contribution may include the administration
of the MultiplEYE eyetracking-while-reading experiment, the preparation of the stimuli, or contributions to
the preprocessing of the collected data and the development of the MultiplEYE repository. - The contribution may also include sharing the eye-tracking equipment with the host institution for the purpose of data collection for the MultiplEYE Eyetracking-While-Reading Corpus.
- *Note that preference will be given to applicants with some eye-tracking (or programming) experience.
LIST OF HOSTS, PLACES OF VISIT, AND HOST INSTITUTIONS
| Host | Host institution | Place of visit | Language of data collection | Number of STSM candidates | Eye-tracker available at the host institution (y/n) | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alba Haveriku | Polytechnic University of Tirana | Tirana, Albania | Albanian | 1 | no | alba.haveriku@fti.edu.al |
| Eliot Bytyçi | University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina” | Prishtina, Kosovo | Albanian | 1 | no | eliot.bytyci@uni-pr.edu |
| Ana Bautista | BCBL – Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language | San Sebastián, Spain | Basque | 2 | yes | a.bautista@bcbl.eu |
| Vera Demberg | Saarland University | Saarbrücken, Germany | German | 3 | yes | vera@coli.uni-saarland.de |
| Dorota Klimek – Jankowska | University of Wrocław | Wrocław, Poland | Polish | 2 | yes | dorota.klimek- jankowska@uwr.edu.pl |
PERIOD AND DURATION OF THE STSM:
- The STSM can take place in the period from February to the end of June 2025, and can last from one week up to three months. The applicant and the host will agree on the duration, and the applicant will specify the time and duration in the application form.
- The Evaluation Committee will verify that the duration proposed for the visit is in line with the proposed goals and activities.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:
- April 30th. However, since this is an open call for the STSMs taking place until the end of June (see dates above), we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
- Next open call is planned for June 2025.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
The documents necessary for the application and the outline of the application process can be found at the official website, under the Activities, STSM section. Please read them, and the COST ANNOTATED RULES, Grant Awarding User Guide, as well as this page carefully before applying!
Generally, the STSM application procedure will be conducted online via the e-COST PLATFORM. The following
documents are required:
- STSM Application Form filled in on e-COST and downloaded from the system (including STSM title, start and end date, information about the Host Institution and contact person, and the budget requested by the Applicant)
- COST Application Template (including STSM details, goals, work plan, and expected outputs;)
- Host agreement Support Letter (letter of support from the host institution, signed by the host and the institution’s legal representative). The Letter must clearly show the institution’s acceptance of the proposed period for the visit and of the proposed work plan of the applicant. Note: the draft of this document will be sent to the host who agrees to host the applicant (for this, contact the Grant Awarding Coordinator)
- Brief CV (max. 2 pages)
- Motivation Letter (a brief letter summarizing the main scientific goals, as well as its relevance for the applicant, home/host institutions, the MultiplEYE Action, etc.)
- *Recommendation letter by someone from your institution (only if you are a PhD student and / or a research assistant!)
ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS:
The STSMs are intended for any researcher affiliated to a legal entity based in either a COST Full/Cooperating Member or a Near Neighbour Country.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION:
An STSM Grant is a contribution up to maximum 4.000 EUR to the overall travel, accommodation, and meal expenses of the Grantee. Please note that this is the absolute maximum and that you should request a realistic amount. Please also note that STSMs don’t support research costs. The Core Group decides on the final financial contribution, taking into consideration MultiplEYE available resources, the budget requested, the scope, the duration, and the location of the STSM.
EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS:
The STSM Applications are evaluated by the STSM Committee including:
– Grant Awarding Coordinator, Action Chair, Action Vice Chair and a Core Group Member.
The STSM committee will evaluate all STSM applications within approximately a week upon receiving the application. The selection of successful STSM applications is based on the scientific scope of the proposed mission and, most importantly, how the mission supports MultiplEYE in achieving its scientific objectives. Gender balance, career stage, and the distribution of STSMs among different countries will also be considered. The COST Action Evaluation Committee has the right to award less than the requested amount.
Once the selection process is complete the Applicant receives a formal notification through e-COST informing him/her about the outcomes of the selection and whether the request has been approved or not. If the application is funded, the Applicant receives a Grant Letter stating the approved amount and the conditions for receiving the Grant. The Applicant CANNOT in any case start his/her mobility period before having received the Grant Letter.
CRITERIA FOR AWARDING THE STSM:
- The relevance of the proposed exchange towards the focus of this call
- The relevance of the proposed exchange towards the MultiplEYE Action objectives
- The quality and clarity of the proposed research, and the motivation behind it
- The feasibility of the proposed activities
- The academic profile of the researcher
- The output potential of the research carried out (deliverables)
- The coherence between the proposed budget and the duration and destination of the visit. Applicants are
strongly encouraged to consider the COST rules about funding the STSMs when preparing their
budget.
FINAL REPORTING AND GRANT PAYMENT:
After the completion of the STSM, the grantee is required to submit a scientific report via e-COST and to send it by email to the Grant Awarding Coordinator within 30 days after the STSM has been completed.
The Applicant and the host are also required to send to the Grant Awarding Coordinator a confirmation letter from the host institution stating the successful achievement of the foreseen goals (with the signature of the local
supervisor and/or legal representative). The draft of this letter can be sent to the host by the Grant Awarding Coordinator upon request.
Upon approval of the scientific report by the STSM Committee the Grant will be processed and paid directly to the grantee within 30 days.
CONTACTS:
- Grant Awarding Coordinator – Eva Pavlinušić Vilus eva.pavlinusic.vilus@erf.unizg.hr (questions related to the application procedure and organization of the STSM)
- Action Chair / Vice Chair – Lena Jäger jaeger@cl.uzh.ch / Ana Matić Škorić ana.matic.skoric@erf.unizg.hr (questions related to the MultiplEYE objectives)
- Action Grant Holder Manager – Anna Bondar anna.bondar@uzh.ch (questions related to the e-COST, Grant Letter, and financial matters)
Important: The applicants must contact the potential host, discuss the proposal of the envisioned work plan and
the week(s) of stay, and obtain a Host agreement Support Letter which is to be uploaded via e-COST. Note that
a Host agreement Support Letter does not guarantee that you will be selected.