The 8th call for STSM is closed.

The Core Group of the CONFREMUS COST Action has closed the 8th call for STSMs proposals.

Deadline: 15th June 2023.


The details are described below.

STSM rules


Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits aimed at supporting individual mobility, strengthening existing networks, and fostering collaboration between COST Action Participants. A STSM should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action, whilst at the same time allowing those partaking in the missions to learn new techniques, gain access to specific data, instruments or methods not available in their own institutions or organisations.

The focus on the call, which aims to be widely inclusive, is on researchers with emphasis on early career scientists1. Proposals must be in line with the objectives of one or various of the four Working Groups of the CONFREMUS. Applicants are invited to get acquainted with the objectives of the Action as a whole and each of the WGs by reading the COST Action MoU available here.

STSM grantees must make their own arrangements for all provisions related to personal security, health, taxation, social security and pension matters.

For this call, the Core GRoup of Management Committee of CONFREMUS has decided to allocate a budget of up to 10 220 €.

Potential hosts for STSM applicants.

Herewith you can find announcements of potential hosts for STSMs (the list is not exhaustive):

STSM host Mill of Kalborn (Luxemburg) – click here

Timeframe for this STSM call

Deadlines for applications: to be submitted till 15th June 2023.

Notification of applications outcomes: 14 days after the closing the call.

Period of STSM: All STSM activities must occur in their entirety until 1th October 2023.

Report submitted: up to 14 days after STSM completion, but never later than 15th October.

Specific information concerning STSMs under CONFREMUS

STSMs must have a minimum duration of 5 days and a maximum duration of 90 days.

The financial support from the COST Action is a contribution to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM and may not necessarily cover all of the associated outgoings.

The following funding conditions apply and must be respected:

  1. Up to a maximum of 3500 € in total can be awarded to each successful STSM applicant.
  2. The requested total amount of grant must be estimated by the applicant based on daily allowances of maximum 160 € per day (which might be reduced in order to elongate duration of STMS) and a maximum of 1200 € for traveling expenses (depending on the distance to cover).
  3. The amounts granted for each individual STSM will be determined during the evaluation process by the Core Group of the CONFREMUS – see below.
  4. Pre-payment (only for representatives of COST Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs)) will be transferred to Grantee account after Grant Holder will receive confirmation from the Host, that Grantee has arrived to the Host location. Confirmation of arrival should be send by Host to: tzajac@iop.krakow.pl, CC: lipinska@iop.krakow.pl.

Financial support is paid in the form of a grant after the submission of a STSM report, once the STMS is completed and in accordance to the provisions stated in section “Final report” and accepted by STSM coordinator, the Core Group and finally by Chair of the Management Committee.

Application rules

Eligible applicants

Individuals, including researchers and especially early career investigators. STSM applicants must be engaged in an official research programme as a MSc student, PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow or can be employed by, or affiliated to, an institution, organisation or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing research.

The necessary formal requirement is a completed e-COST profile.

STSM applicants should come from any of the COST Full Member or COST Cooperating Member country, which are members of the CONFREMUS COST Action (for explanation of terms see the COST Vademecum).

The institutions / organizations or legal entities, where applicants pursue their main professional activities, are considered as Home Institutions. The Host Institution is the institution / organisation that will host the successful applicant. The Host institution may be located in another COST Full / Cooperating / Partner Member country, participating  in the Action CONFREMUS. Preference will be given to Early Career Investigators1 (ECI, for explanation see the COST Vademecum) and to those and other scientists from Inclusiveness Target Countries2, however, securing gender balance.

Application procedure

  1. All applicants must carefully read the rules detailed in STSM Section of the COST annotated rules
  2. All applicants must register for an e-COST profile adding their bank account details to their profile, as requested.
  3. The applicant must obtain a letter of invitation from the Host Institution confirming that they can undertake the STSM on the given dates prior to submitting an application. Please pay attention to dates if they are proper!
  4. The applicant must visit e-COST https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm, choose “Grant Application” from the menu on the left, then tick “Apply for grant”, then choose STSM panel (tick “Continue”), fill-in the fields with your personal information. IMPORTANT: first choose proper COST Action, then at Grant Period choose AGA-CA239-4, otherwise you will not be able to encode the proper dates of the STSM.
  5. In the next panel, you can download Grant application template, complete it, submit and download the STSM application online. The applicant must send their STSM application form submitted to e-COST (pdf) and the relevant supporting documents (see below) to prof. Jouni Taskinen, STSM Coordinator (jouni.k.taskinen@jyu.fi) and copied to prof. Tadeusz Zając, MC chair(tzajac@iop.krakow.pl)

The list of supporting documents to be submitted in pdf format for the evaluation are:

(a) The submitted STSM application form (downloadable on e-COST or here): before completing the form be sure, that it clearly gives an overview of the aims of proposed activities, highlighting their contribution to the scientific objectives of CONFREMUS (proposed plan of work should be consulted with the Host Institution in advance), and why it is important for the applicant and his scientific work; an example of a correctly completed form can be found here.

(b) A letter of support from the Home Institution (downloadable);

(c) Letter of invitation to the applicant from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host Institution, with the written agreement from the Host Institution that the STSM applicant can perform the activities detailed in the STSM work plan on the agreed dates (downloadable);

(d) A Full C.V. (downloadable); including a list of academic publications – if applicable.

The names of the files submitted must allow the reader to identify the type of the document and should contain: name of the applicant_type of the document, e.g. Myname_report; Myname_CV etc. If the applicant submits more than one STSM grant proposal, they should be identified by place or the period, e.g. Myname_report_Croatia. The applications which do not conform to these rules will be declined, with possibility of re-submitting.

Applications for STSM grants MUST be written in English, submission of the documents in national languages will cause decline of the submission. If the grant application contains text copied from any other STSM application (including own) it will be declined without possibility of resubmission.

Pay special attention on planning dates of the STSM – they should be the same as the dates of the invitation by the host and listed in letter of support from your home institution.

Eligible STSM applicants must submit their STSM applications online here.

In the system, you will create a new STSM Request. Fill in the online form:

The following additional information should be provided:

  • Home Institution
  • the Action Number (CA18239)
  • STSM Title (indicating relation of mission to CONFREMUS)
  • The STSM visit should end before October 1th, 2023).
  • Motivation and workplan summary, with:
    • Abstract (max 200 words);
    • Aim & motivation (max 400 words): explain why you are applying for the STSM;
    • Outcomes (max 300 words): describe the expected results to be accomplished during or as a result of the STSM;
    • Integration with the COST action (max 300 words): describe the contribution of the proposed STSM to the scientific objectives of the Action;
    • Techniques (max: 400 words): describe what techniques or equipment you want to learn (if applicable);
    • Planning (max 300 words): The plan to achieve the proposed objectives;
    • References: up to 5 most relevant.
  • Bank Details
  • Host details (Name, e-mail, institution details)
  • Requested financial support:
    • up to 3500€.
    • Note: Up to a maximum of EUR 160 per day can be afforded for accommodation and meal expenses.

Evaluation

The Core Group announces the collection date of proposals on the web site. The evaluation of each received STSM application is performed by the Action Core Group (leaders of Working Groups, STSM coordinator, Grant Coordinator, Information Officer and MC chair).

The CONFREMUS Core Group, which will perform the scientific and budgetary assessment of the applications against the perceived contribution that the proposed visit will make against the scientific objectives outlined in the CONFREMUS objectives as indicated above.

Evaluation criteria:

  • Scientific quality of the proposal (scientific level of the project and how it is correlated to the aims of the Action) – weight 2;
  • Technical feasibility (is the host equipment or technical knowledge required for the completion of a project, length of the STSM) – weight 1;
  • In case of proposals with equal scientific quality and technical feasibility, priority is given to (1) young researchers and ECIs, (2) researchers affiliated in institutions in COST Inclusiveness Target Countries and (3) proposals equalizing gender balance.

Then the proposal is verified against formal integrity (dates, places, file names, concordance with CONFREMUS aims) and budget allocated to the call. If any inconsistencies will be identified the proposal can be called for resubmission or rejected without the possibility of resubmission (see above). If proposal will be finally accepted by the chair, applicant will be notified within 14 days after submission deadline and list of accepted grants will be listed in confremus.eu web site (see below). Those not successful may revise and resubmit their applications for upcoming collection dates (see section deadlines).

For the sake of information and transparency, the accepted proposals will be also send to the Management Committee members for their information.

Final report

The candidate will have to submit the Final Report, within 14 days after the end of the STSM, not later than 15th October . 2023 in the case of autumn calls, including:

  • Scientific report (click here to download template);
  • Host approval of the report – confirming that the STSM took place and the work plan goals were achieved.

The example of properly written report can be found here.

Both documents can be upload directly into the e-COST portal. Photos from the visit in the report file are welcomed.

The payment of the grant can only be made after the approval of this report. Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM will effectively cancel the grant. (Please note that the COST Association can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants). The applicant is also responsible for acquiring an official acceptance letter / e-mail confirmation of acceptance from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host Institution formally accepting the scientific report. This formal acceptance of the scientific report has to be sent within that same period of 30 days after STSM is over, to the Grant Holder and vice Chair of the Management Committee of CA18239 CONFREMUS, Dr. Manuel Lopes-Lima (lopeslima.ciimar@gmail.com) and to prof. Jouni Taskinen (jouni.k.taskinen@jyu.fi) for archiving and dissemination purposes. Report will also be send to Management Committee members for their information and general transparency.

Additional information

For more information about the STSM application procedure, see the COST Vademecum.

Accepted applications are listed below:

STSM proposals accepted in the June 2023 call:

referenceApplicant NametitleApplicant Primary Institution
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-0b1013d1Dariusz HalabowskiCryptic diversity of Sphaeriidae in Portuguese springsPoland
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-105572fdNicoletta RiccardiCooperation for assessing distribution and conservation status of mussels’ species/populations in NorwayItaly
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-2609abd3Halyna MorhunTaxonomic reassessment of the endangered freshwater mussel Unio (Bivalvia: Unionidae) from a steppe ecoregion of Souther UkraineUkraine
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-502e4fc0Maria UrbańskaTaxonomic revision of freshwater mussels of SwedenPoland
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-66c4859cSimone VarandasAssessment of the diversity and distribution of freshwater mussel species in Sweden. A contribution to filling knowledge gaps inPortugal
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-959603f5Maria UrbańskaTaxonomic revision of freshwater mussels of NorwayPoland
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-a39acd3fNicoletta RiccardiCooperation for assessing distribution and conservation status of mussel’s species/populations in SwedenItaly
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-b79e7853Simone VarandasContribution towards addressing knowledge gaps in the diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussel species: evaluation in NorawayPortugal

STSM proposals accepted in the January 2023 call:

ReferenceApplicant NameTitleCountry of applicantApplicant Primary InstitutionHostTime
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-209d18e1Manuel Lopes LimaCONFREMUS – BUILDING A NETWORK OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN FRESHWATER MUSSELSPortugalCIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic ResourcesFMCS meeting, Portland, USA (dissemination grant)10.04.2023-14.04.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-38a564d6Liliya BylynaStudy of the reproduction processes of Sphaerium rivicola Lamarck, 1818 (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Pisidiidae) in the Hnylopyatka RiverUkraineZhytomyr Ivan Franko State University zu.edu.uaIOP PAN, Kraków, Poland27.02.2023-12.03.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-5f8ad15bNoé Ferreira RodríguezTraditional ecological knowledge of freshwater mussels in RomaniaSpainUniversidade de VigoUniversity Ovidius din Constanta, Constanta, Romania24.04.2023-07.05.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-7a2475a0Sebastian RockMargaritifera margaritifera as a host to parasites, and a parasite on hostsSwedenKarlstad UniversityUniversity of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland 14.02.2323-21.02.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-80e56061Vanessa ModestoComparing and harmonizing methodologies and techniques to study mussels’ behavioural patterns in response to climate change acroItalyItalian National Research Council Institute of Water Research IRSAKarlstad University, Karlstadt, Sweden18.03.2023-26.03.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-80ea100fSebastian BeggelHarmonization of methods for mussel behaviour analysis using non-invasive valvometry sensorsGermanyAquatic Systems BiologyCNR – Water Research Institute, Verbania, Italy03.04.2023-14.04.2023
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-aa5c523fLarisa ShevchukAnalysis of age structure of Unionidae populations as an important bioindicatorUkraineZhytomyr Ivan Franko State University zu.edu.uaIOP PAN, Kraków, Poland27.02.2023-12.03.2023

STSM proposals accepted in the August 2022 call:

ReferenceApplicant NameTitleCountry of ApplicantApplicant Primary InstitutionHostTime Application Status
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-82493bc6Motiur ChowdhuryHost-parasite interactions between Margaritifera margaritifera and Unio crassus and their host fishesFinlandUniversity of JyvaskylaKarlstad University, Sweden23.08.-01.09.2022aproved
E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-e674c7fbOksana HnatynaPhenotypic variation of freshwater mussels in Ukraine: historical vs present dataUkraineIvan Franko National University of LvivInstitute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland22.08.-15.09.2022approved

STSM proposals accepted in the June 2022 call:

Reference

Applicant Name

Title

Country of Applicant

Applicant Primary Institution

Host

Time

Application status

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-7106af6b

Liliya Bylyna

Morphological and biological features of species of the Pisidiidae Family in Ukraine

Ukraine

Ivan Franko Zhytomyr State University

Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences

1.-10.08. 2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-a0bba04d

Noé Ferreira Rodríguez

USING FRESHWATER MUSSELS AS SENTINELS FOR WATER SECURITY

Spain

Universidade de Vigo

Poznan University of Life Sciences

1.-11.09. 2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-a5d7b96e

Motiur Chowdhury

Semi natural caging systems of mussels

Finland

University of Jyvaskyla

Mill of Kalborn (Luxemburg), Fondation Hellef fir D’Natur

8.-21.08. 2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-ec25db7a

Larisa Shevchuk

Biodiversity of the Bivalve Mollusks of the Pisidiidae Family in Ukraine

Ukraine

Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University zu.edu.ua

Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences

1-10.08. 2022

accepted


STSM proposals accepted in the January 2022 call:

reference

Applicant Name

Title

Country of applicant

Applicant Primary Institution

Host

Time

Status

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-3328444c

Nicoletta Riccardi

Contributing to fill the knowledge gaps in diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussel species.

Italy

CNR Institute of Water Research

Blattfish e.U., Austria

01.07.-15.07.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-357badcc

Anna Łabęcka

The role of parasites as multipliers of invasive species and climate impacts on native European mussels

Poland

Jagiellonian University

Inst. Of Water Research, Verbania, Italy

01.07.-15.07.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-398779dc

Maria Urbańska

Contributing to fill the knowledge gaps in diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussel species.

Poland

Poznań University of Life Sciences

Czech University of Life Sciences

01.07.-15.07.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-48f01504

Andre Santos

Population genomics of the Portuguese freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera

Portugal

CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research

College de France, France

18.04-08.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-4d1a5d7a

Stoimir Stojanovski

Planning of research on parasites of mussels in Republic of North Macedonia and learning techniques of freshwater mussel parasit

North Macedonia

PSI Hydrobiological Institute, Ohrid

Department of Biological and Environmental Science University of Jyväskylä, FINLAND

21.05.-31.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-6917a367

Maria Urbańska

Transnational cooperation to develop a conservation plan for Microcondylaea bonellii.

Poland

Poznań University of Life Sciences

University of Zagreb, Dept. of Biology

11.05.-16.05.2022

pending

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-7c4a97e7

Maria Urbańska

Transnational cooperation to develop a conservation plan for Microcondylaea bonellii.

Poland

Poznań University of Life Sciences

URBANZERO Institute for Holistic Environmental Management, Slovenia

05.05.-10.05.2022

pending

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-8bd52509

Silvia Giorgia Signorini

Development of analytical methods to assess epigenetics traits in freshwater bivalves

Italy

Università degli Studi di Milano

Eawag, Department of Aquatic Ecology, Switzerland

04.04.-12.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-96e7e752

Jake Dimon

Use of physical surveys and molecular techniques to monitor freshwater mussel diversity across Iberian basins

United Kingdom

University of Nottingham

Univ. Of Porto, CIBIO

13.04.-27.04.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-a9ca020c

Dariusz Halabowski

Intra-specific impact of a simulated drought on the behaviour of Unio delphinus

Poland

University of Silesia in Katowice

Univ. Of Minho, Portugal

01.07.-01.08.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-abdb58b5

Simone Varandas

Contributing to fill the knowledge gaps in diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussel species

Portugal

University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

 

01.07.-15.07.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-b8fb490a

Dijana Blazhekovikj – Dimovska

Learning techniques of freshwater mussel parasite examination and planning of research on parasites of mussels in Republic of No

North Macedonia

Faculty of Biotechnical Sciences, University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – Bitola

University of Jyväskylä, FINLAND

21.05.-31.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-bfdc05c7

Nicoletta Riccardi

Transnational cooperation to develop a conservation plan for Microcondylaea bonellii

Italy

CNR Institute of Water Research

URBANZERO Institute for Holistic Environmental Management, Mirna, Slovenia

06.05.-10.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-d4a2606b

Paulo Castro

Acute responses of Freshwater Mussels

Portugal

University of Minho

Karlstad University, Sweden

30.03.-9.04.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-e627c844

Vanessa Modesto

Conservation plan for Microcondylaea bonellii: tailored strategy for in-vitro breeding.

Italy

Italian National Research Council Institute of Water Research IRSA

Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czechia

16.05.-31.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-fa7a30f8

Nicoletta Riccardi

Transnational cooperation to develop a conservation plan for Microcondylaea bonellii

Italy

CNR Institute of Water Research

University of Zagreb, Department of Biology, Croatia

11.05.-15.05.2022

accepted

E-COST-GRANT-CA18239-ff8c7fb6

Manuel Lopes Lima

Genetic diversity of freshwater mussels of Central Europe

Portugal

CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

01.07.-15.07.2022

accepted


Accepted applications are listed below:

STSM CALL (20 MAY 2021):

Number of proposal: 48048  

Name: Füsun Akgül
Home institution country: Turkey, MEHMET AKIF ERSOY UNIVERSITY (BURDUR)
Host institution country: Italy, CNR Institute of Water Research (Verbania)

Duration (days): 16
Title: STSM: Italy-Turkey

Number of proposal: 48113

Name: Alexandra Zieritz
Home institution country: University of Nottingham (Nottingham, United Kingdom)
Host institution country: University of Porto, CIBIO (Porto, Portugal)

Duration (days): 7
Title: Effects of climate change on freshwater mussel behaviour

Number of proposal: 48120

Name: Şebnem Atasral
Home institution country: Karadeniz Technical University (Trabzon, Turkey)
Host institution country: Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal

Duration (days): 31
Title: Working Group 1 Diversity STSM Call

Number of proposal: 48138

Name: Rebeca Hoess
Home institution country: Technical University of Munich (Freising, Germany)
Host institution country: Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden

Duration (days): 15
Title: Comparing stressors and restoration measures in freshwater pearl mussel streams in Central Europe and Scandinavia, learning aquaria techniques, and networking

Number of proposal: 48149

Name: Daniel Daill
Home institution country: Consultants in Aquatic Ecology and Engineering “blattfisch e.U.” (Wels, Austria)
Host institution country: University of Bergen, Department of Biological Sciences (BIO), Bergen, Norway

Duration (days): 5
Title: Visit of the freshwater pearl mussel breeding facility in Austevoll (Norway)

Number of proposal: 48152

Name: Alexandra Zieritz
Home institution country: University of Nottingham (Nottingham, United Kingdom)
Host institution country: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

Duration (days): 10
Title: Taxonomic revision of freshwater mussels of Bulgaria

Number of proposal: 48155

Name: Nicoletta Riccardi
Home institution country: CNR Institute of Water Research (Verbania, Italy)
Host institution country: Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Reseaech, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,

Duration (days): 10
Title: Contributing to fill the knowledge gaps in diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussels species


Number of proposal: 48156

Name: Maria Urbańska
Home institution country: Poznań University of Life Sciences (Poznań, Poland)
Host institution country: Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria

 Duration (days): 10
Title: Contributing to fill the knowledge gaps in diversity and distribution of European freshwater mussels species


Number of proposal: 48158

Name: Maria Urbańska
Home institution country: Poznań University of Life Sciences (Poznań, Poland)
Host institution country: CNR Institute of Water Research (Verbania, Italy)

Duration (days): 16
Title: To what extent pre-adaptation can influence the behavioral response of invasive and native bivalves to thermal stress?


Funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
of the European Union


1 – Early Career Investigator – An individual who is within a time span of up to 8 years from the date they obtained their PhD/doctorate (full-time equivalent).
2 – ITCs: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Turkey.