{"id":6686,"date":"2025-07-17T07:54:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T07:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genoageneticdiversity.eu\/?p=6686"},"modified":"2025-07-17T09:41:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T09:41:17","slug":"stsm-grants-wg2-genetic-indicators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/genoageneticdiversity.eu\/index.php\/2025\/07\/17\/stsm-grants-wg2-genetic-indicators\/","title":{"rendered":"STSM Grants WG2 \u201cGenetic Indicators\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CA23121 GENOA<\/h3><\/span>
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The Second Call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) Grants<\/h2><\/span>
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Work on STSM taking place between 1st August – 15 September 2025<\/p>\n<\/div>

CALL DEADLINE<\/strong>: July 20th, 17:00 CEST
ANNOUNCEMENT DATE<\/strong>: ten working days upon receipt of the applications or July 31, 17:00
CEST at the latest<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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BACKGROUND<\/h3><\/span>
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Working group 2 is primarily focusing on genetic indicators that don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

The Short-Term Scientific Mission<\/strong> 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\u2019s objectives, tasks and deliverables.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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THE PURPOSE OF THE STSM GRANT FOR WG2<\/h3><\/span>
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The STSM Grant<\/strong> 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
\n1) 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Eligibility<\/h4><\/span>
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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.
\nThe table below illustrates the possible scenarios for eligible STSM applicants:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Applicant\u2019s Home institution<\/th>\nSTSM Host Institution<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u00b7 Located in a Participating COST Full Member \/ COST Cooperating Member
\n\u00b7 Located in a Near Neighbour Country
\n\u00b7 Located in a recognised European RTD Organisation<\/td>\n		\u00b7 Located in another Participating COST Full Member \/ COST Cooperating Member \/ Partner Member
\n\u00b7 Located in an IPC \/ Third State
\n\u00b7 Located in a Near Neighbour Country
\n\u00b7 Specific Organisations: only if the rule applies to the territory where it is vested<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Non-eligible activities<\/h4><\/span>
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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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS<\/h3><\/span>
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The following eligibility criteria apply:
\u25cf Applicant(s) are Action participants<\/strong> with a primary affiliation to an institution located in a COST Full or Cooperating Member country<\/a><\/span> or MC Observers<\/strong> from a COST Near Neighbour Country<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u25cf 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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FUNDING<\/h3><\/span>
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The maximum amount for one STSM grant is \u20ac 2,400<\/strong>. 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.<\/u><\/p>\n

No in advance payments are foreseen. Approved STSM Grant will be paid to the grantee after the Core Group has approved the grantee\u2019s report and no later than 15 days from the end of Grant Period.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE<\/h3><\/span>
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STSM Grant applications must be submitted using the e-COST system<\/a><\/span>. The applicants should use STSM templates provided by e-COST in the User Guide of STSM<\/a><\/span> (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<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/span> for evaluation by the STSM Committee. The list of supporting documents to be submitted for the evaluation are:<\/p>\n