Short Term Scientific Mission
What Are STSMs?
Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are exchange visits aimed at supporting researchers’ individual mobility, strengthening existing networks and fostering collaboration. STSMs are intended especially, but not solely, for young researchers.
An STSM should specifically contribute to the scientific objectives of the COST Action while enabling those partaking in the missions to establish new partnerships, learn new techniques, gain access to specific data, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions/organisations.
Watch a COST Animation video about the Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)
Who can apply?
STSMs are open to Early Career and Advanced Career Researchers, including PhDs and Postdocs. STSMs must be performed between COST countries – researchers cannot apply for an STSM within their own country.
Awards throughout the annual grant period will be made to support scientific excellence and to support a variety of researchers in terms of gender, career stage, affiliation, and nationality.
What can you apply for?
You can apply for a Short Term Scientific Missions duration between 5 and 90 days (and up to 180 days if the applicant is an ECR). The STSM will be a fixed grant to cover part of the travel expenses and living allowance. The cost of research materials is not eligible for consideration as part of the grant.
Please note that the awarded grant will be paid only after the STSM has been completed – therefore the applicant must have approval and prior financial support e.g., from their own institution.
How can you apply?
For a step-by-step guide to applying for an STSM and the criteria by which STSM applications will be assessed, please see here.
STSM awards may be combined with other funding sources, but these must be acknowledged in the application.
In your application, you will have to describe the goal of the proposed STSM, how it contributes to the scientific remit of the COST Action “SharingAndCaring”, the planned expenses and the outputs planned as result of the STSM. For ECIs, two support letters by advanced career researchers will be required.
For detailed rules regarding eligibility and financial support, please see the relevant sections of the COST Annotated Rules.
For further queries please contact the STSM committee at info@cosmoanelixis.gr
2022/23 CALL is now OPEN
For further queries please contact the STSM committee at info@cosmoanelixis.gr
STSM Awards

2023 Awards
Luisa Bergunde
Luisa Bergunde conducted her research between 19/3/23 and 26/3/23. She is based at the Technische Universität Dresden and visited the Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg for her research. Her report is attached.

2023 Awards
Alessia Melacca
Alessia Melacca conducted her research between 27/02/2023 and 03/03/2023. She is based at the University of Florence and visited the Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg for her research. Her report is attached.

2022 Awards
Ruveyde Aydin
Ruveyde Aydin conducted her research between 04/06/22 and 06/08/22. She is based at Ondokuz Mayıs University, Turkey and she visited the City, University of London for her research.

2021 Awards
Roser Palau Costafreda
Women’s experiences in different maternity care settings and fundamentals of biomechanics in pregnancy and childbirth: A knowledge-exchange research program
Roser Palau Costafreda conducted her research between 18/10/21 and 29/10/21. She is based at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona and visited the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, for her research. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Julika Hudson
Comparing Iceland’s to Ireland’s response to Covid-19. What can we learn?
Julika Hudson conducted her research between 13/9/21 and 17/9/21. She is based at Trinity College Dublin and visited the University of Akureyri, Iceland for her research. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Rosita Gabbianelli
Stress, nutritional behaviour and epigenetics in mothers living in Nord
Europe
Rosita Gabbianelli conducted her research between 13/8/21 and 21/8/21. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Dorothea Kasiteropoulou
Computational modelling approach to study maternal-fetal heat exchange under different physiological and clinical conditions.
Dorothea Kasiteropoulou conducted her research between 12/7/21 and 13/8/21. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Myrto Chronaki
Myrto Chronaki conducted her research between 10/5/2021 to 19/5/2021. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Georgia Kontosorou
Georgia Kontosoru conducted her research between 29/03/2021 to 9/04/2021. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Katharina Hartmann
Dr Katharina Hartmann from Germany conducted her research in Croatia between 19/04/2021 to 3/05/2021. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Ursula Nagle
Ursula Nagle from Dublin conducted her research in the UK between 16/02/2021 to 19/02/2021. Her report is attached.

2021 Awards
Olga Gouni
Ms Olga Gouni from Prenatal Sciences Research Institute, Athens completed her Short Term Scientific Mission between 7-17th January 2021 and her report is attached.

2020 Awards
Julie Horgan, Midwife
Julie was awarded an STSM to visit a member university to learn why Sweden had such a low C-section rate compared to Ireland.