STSM Grants WG2 “Genetic Indicators”

Work on STSM taking place between 1st August – 15 September 2025

CALL DEADLINE: July 20th, 17:00 CEST
ANNOUNCEMENT DATE: ten working days upon receipt of the applications or July 31, 17:00
CEST at the latest

Working group 2 is primarily focusing on genetic indicators that don’t use molecular data. However, there is also a need to better understand effective population size, and improve the Ne/Nc ratio. This way we can apply this ratio better in indicator calculations.

The Short-Term Scientific Mission in this call aims to support progress in the work plan of WG2 through contribution to the subproject on the Ne/Nc ratio, led by Joachim Mergeay (joachim.mergeay@inbo.be) in view of achieving the WG2’s objectives, tasks and deliverables.

The STSM Grant will focus on improving knowledge on the Ne/Nc ratio across species. The host country of this STSM will be Belgium (under the supervision of Dr. Joachim Mergeay). Other members in WG2 might also be involved in co-leading this project. Possible specific topics include
1) Revisiting and updating all currently published Ne/Nc ratios from the literature, and flesh out the reliability of the Ne and Nc estimates, to come up with a set of reliable Ne/Nc ratios.

2) Performing a literature search to find new sources of Ne and Nc data (beyond published Ne/Nc ratios) to expand the list of species and populations for which Ne/Nc data are already available. This involves writing a query, filtering the results to select papers likely harboring useful data, downloading the list of filtered papers, and setting up a plan for data extraction. Complete data extraction is beyond the scope of this STSM and will be coordinated through WG2 as a collaborative effort.

3) Focusing on birds as a species group, select species and regions for which Nc is well known (Europe, North America, …), search for existing molecular genetic datasets (a parallel initiative is ongoing for which some of these datasets are being identified) and calculate Ne and the Ne/Nc ratio. Next, extract life history traits (longevity, fecundity, …) to prepare a multiple regression framework in which we test to what extent these traits predict the Ne/Nc ratio.

Individuals affiliated to a legal entity in a COST Full/Cooperating Member, in an European RTD, or in a Near Neighbour Country (NNC) institution can apply for a STSM.
The table below illustrates the possible scenarios for eligible STSM applicants:

All activities that are covered by other networking tools, licenses of programmes or online tools, conference fees, translations, purchase of any software and technical equipment.

The following eligibility criteria apply:
● Applicant(s) are Action participants with a primary affiliation to an institution located in a COST Full or Cooperating Member country or MC Observers from a COST Near Neighbour Country.

● The successful applicant(s) shall:
– inform the MC and the Core Group about the aim of the STSM Grant and how its outcomes will generate benefits to the Action,
– actively contribute to the activities and overall objectives of the Action,
– submit a report at the end, to be approved by the STSM manager on behalf of the MC.

The maximum amount for one STSM grant is € 2,400. However, please note that the requested amount can be decreased or increased as Core Group will define the exact amount for each grant reflecting the scope and complexity of the task and activities.

No in advance payments are foreseen. Approved STSM Grant will be paid to the grantee after the Core Group has approved the grantee’s report and no later than 15 days from the end of Grant Period.

STSM Grant applications must be submitted using the e-COST system. The applicants should use STSM templates provided by e-COST in the User Guide of STSM (page 3). STSM Grant applications submitted in any other way (email, post etc.) will not be evaluated. Details of application procedure are described in the User Guide of STSM.

1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact respective WG2 leaders Joachim Mergeay and Linda Laikre, prior to submitting their application to ensure that the proposed outcome of their STSM agrees with the objectives of this action.

2. All applicants must complete, submit and download their STSM applications online within their e-COST profile at: https://e-services.cost.eu/stsm/apply/new.

3. All applicants must send their submitted STSM application form and the relevant supporting documents through the e-COST platform https://e-services.cost.eu/user/login for evaluation by the STSM Committee. The list of supporting documents to be submitted for the evaluation are:

• Letter of invitation to the applicant from a senior researcher affiliated to the Host institution.
• A letter of support from the Home Institution.
• The submitted STSM application form (downloadable when the online application is submitted – see point 4 above). Applicants are kindly asked to clearly state which workgroup(s) will their STSM contribute to, in order to facilitate the evaluation process.
• A motivation letter including an overview of the proposed activities that will be performed which must contain a plan of work for the visit highlighting the proposed contribution to the scientific objectives of the respective COST Action.
• A Full C.V. (including a list of academic publications – if applicable).

4. The application will then be assessed by the formally delegated STSM Committee against the perceived contribution that the proposed visit will make against the scientific objectives outlined in the Action’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of GENOA (but see also Annex to this document).

5. STSM Committee members: STSM Coordinator Joachim Mergeay, WG1: Miroslav Urosevic, WG2: Sven Winter, WG3: Maria Kachamakova, WG4: Roberta Gargiulo, WG5: Lada Lukic Bilela, Action Chair Ancuta Fedorca, Vice-Chair Isa-Rita Russo

6. The applicant will be formally notified of the outcome of their STSM application by the STSM Coordinator Joachim Mergeay after 10 working days after the application arrives.

Within 30 days from the end date of the STSM, the successful applicant must submit a scientific report to the Host institution and to the STSM Coordinator (through the e-COST platform) including:

• Description of the outcomes and achieved outputs (including any specific MoU deliverables, or publications resulting from the STSM Mobility).
• Description of the benefits to the COST Action Strategy (what and how).
• Description of the STSM collaboration (including constructive reflection on activities undertaken, identified successful practices and lessons learned). The template of the report is provided in the e-COST and in the User Guide of STSM (page 4).

* Due to administrative tasks related to the approval of the report, it is strongly recommended that reports of the STSM grants are completed as soon as possible after the completion of the grant.

(Please note that the COST Association can request additional information to substantiate the information contained within the documents submitted by STSM applicants)

Each STSM Grant Application must include following information that are also provided in the application template:

– Main objective of the STSM Grant in direct relation with Action deliverables.

– Working Plan: Description of the collaborative initiative to be implemented.

– Plan for Participation: List of participants in the collaborative initiative (short description of their expertise and contribution).

– Main expected outputs: Results and contribution to the progress towards the MoU deliverables (either research coordination and/or capacity building objectives can be tackled) and delivery of the MoU objectives.

– Contribution to the COST Action Strategy: How will the STSM contribute to the e-COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy and plans for stakeholder engagement and promoting participation of researchers from Near neighboring countries and International partner countries and to the approved virtual networking strategy, if available.

Each STSM proposal will be evaluated according to the following five criteria:

• Connection to the objectives of GENOA (as per the topical call) (40%)
• Scientific quality (25%)
• Output (potential publications) (20%)
• Involvement of inclusiveness target countries (ITCs) (5%)
• Gender balance (5%)
• Young Researcher (5%)

Successful STSM Grant Applicants will be informed by an email automatically generated by the e-COST platform. The results of the evaluation are expected to be known ten working days upon receipt of the applications or July 31, 17:00 CEST at the latest.

If you have any questions related to the STSM Grant and the application procedure, please contact GENOA Grant Awarding Manager Joachim Mergeay (email: joachim.mergeay@inbo.be ) or WG2 leader Linda Laikre (Linda.laikre@popgen.su.se).