Subject: COST - MPNS Domain Conference Grants for ESR

Dear COST MC Chairs, Vice-Chairs & STSM Coordinators,

 

COST offers Conference Grants for ESRs, defined as PhD/doctorate (or similar) and less than 10 years experience minus periods of career leave.

 

Each Domain offers 3 supporting grants (max. 3000 € each) per year for ESR to participate in an international conference (with oral contribution) outside of the COST Action budget. The grant can be used to cover travel and subsistence costs, conference fees, and the costs of conference workshops. The selection process (COST 212/07, Annex 4) is by written procedure.

 

The application should include

 

  1. A letter of motivation explaining how the application addresses the criteria below and include a financial breakdown of expected main expenses (flight, accommodation, conference fees)
  2. CV
  3. A proof of abstract acceptance for oral contribution
  4. Action MC approval

 

These documents should be sent as a single submission to the Domain Science Officer, who will forward it to the MPNS DC Core Group for evaluation based on the following selection of criteria,

 

•         ESR required, post-doc or PhD preferably

•         Applicant strongly involved in COST Action required, preferably evidenced by at least 2 Action related publications with at least 1 in a peer review journal

•         Applicant started with the Action in a new field preferred, plans to use conference to establish contacts in the new field

•         Description of the conference required, European conference preferred

•         Conference with contributions from industry preferred

•         Oral contribution from the applicant required, mentioning COST Action

•         Apply 4 months in advance or as soon as oral contribution accepted

 

The final decision shall be taken by written procedure by DC Chair and at least 2 members of the Core Group three times per year for one grant each (COST 212/07, Annex 4). The next collection date is 31 Jan. 2009.

 

After the conference, the applicant must send a report to Action for MC approval to be forwarded to the SO for the DC.

 

Kind regards,

Caroline

 

C.M. Whelan

MPNS SO