This call is for missions occurring before March 31st, 2020

Please note: Researchers interested in applying for an STSM in the “Distant Reading” COST Action should first read the relevant section from the COST Vademecum to establish whether they are eligible to apply for an STSM, and how to calculate the requested grant. Please download the COST Vademecum (latest version of June 2019) for more information and see section 8, “Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM)”.

Number of STSMs and budget

The Management Committee of COST Action 16204 – Distant Reading for European Literary History has allocated a substantial budget for STSMs during the ongoing Grant Period 3 of the Action. The number of STSMs granted is not fixed and amounts granted for each individual STSM will be determined during the evaluation process.

Selection of applicants

The selection of applicants is based on the scientific scope of the STSM application, which must clearly complement the overall objectives of the Action, as well as on additional formal criteria. For information about the Action, please see: http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/ca/CA16204 (especially the Memorandum of Understanding in the Downloads section) as well as the dedicated Action website at http://www.distant-reading.net.

Successful applicants must submit a scientific report to the Host Institution and to the STSM Coordinator within 30 days from the end date of the STSM, and they will be responsible for acquiring from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host Institution confirmation of formal acceptance of the scientific report. The scientific report will also require the approval of the Action Chair or STSM Coordinator in order to effect the payment of the Grant. Successful applicants will be asked to submit a brief of the STSM outputs for the Action’s website describing in summary the scientific report which will also be made available online.

Failure to submit the scientific report within 30 days from the end date of the STSM will effectively cancel the Grant. COST may request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants.

How to apply for an STSM

Interested researchers can apply by following the directions below. In addition, they are welcome to request more information and consultation from our STSM Co-ordinator, Ms Catherine Kanellopoulou (COST Action 16204, STSM Co-ordinator; email address: catherine.kanellopoulou@gmail.com). Applications need to be submitted on or before November 30, 2019.

Our Action is particularly interested in the following topics, which are closely linked to the Action’s activities at the moment. Priority will be given to STSM applications regarding:

  • Producing EPUBs from ELTeC texts
  • Interface to ELTeC for search, filtering and download of texts
  • More texts for addition to the Action’s collection
  • Annotating training sets for UD pipe
  • Tackling Research Questions from WG3 to WG2

Applicants who are interested in one or several of the topics above should contact the Action’s STSM Coordinator (catherine.kanellopoulou@gmail.com) in order to obtain more information on them.

Application process

Instructions for submitting the online Application

Applications for STSMs are managed through the e-COST management tool. The link to the STSM application is available at http://www.cost.eu/STSM. You will need an e-COST profile to log in or you can create one using the site.

The application for a STSM is composed of two parts:

Part 1. Online registration by the applicant

The Applicant must use the online e-COST tool to register the request for an STSM. The following information has to be encoded with the registration:

  • the title of the planned STSM;
  • the planned dates and length of stay;
  • a short description of the academic details of the proposed STSM
  • a motivation statement and description of the proposed work plan (2000 words maximum; see details below)
  • name, postal address and email of the prospective host at the receiving institute;
  • a budget request with breakdown for the costs of the STSM;

Part 2. Supporting documents

The supporting documents necessary for an STSM application include the following:

  • a letter of invitation to the applicant from a senior Researcher affiliated to the Host institution confirming that they can undertake the STSM on the given dates
  • a support letter/email from the Home Institution
  • a full CV of the applicant (including a list of academic publications, if applicable)

After submitting the application, the online registration tool will issue a formal STSM application which will be automatically sent to the Action’s STSM Co-ordinator for evaluation.

Instructions for writing the Motivation and Work Plan statement

The maximum length of the STSM motivation and workplan summary is 2000 words. It is part of the online application form. A complete proposal should include the following sections:

  1. Aim and motivation. Please explain the scientific and/or other motivation for the STSM and what scientific and/or other outcomes you aim to accomplish with the STSM.
  2. Host Institution. Justification for the choice of the host institution
  3. Contribution. Proposed contribution to the scientific objectives of the Action
  4. Methods. Please detail what methods or techniques your may learn to use, if applicable.
  5. Work plan. Please detail the steps you will take to achieve your proposed aims.

Formal Report after the STSM

Successful applicants will need to submit a scientific report to the Host Institution and to the STSM Chair and Coordinator within 30 days from the end date of the STSM, and they will be responsible for acquiring from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host Institution confirmation of successful completion of the STSM. The scientific report will require the approval of the Action Chair or STSM coordinator in order to effect the payment of the Grant. Successful applicants will be asked to submit a brief summary of the STSM outputs for the Action’s website describing the scientific report which will also be made available online.

Important Dates

  • Deadline for applications to be submitted: November 30, 2019
  • Notification of outcome: on or before December 18, 2019
  • STSMs must be completed before March 31, 2020