Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) are aimed at strengthening existing networks and fostering collaborations by facilitating the visit of other institutions by researchers. The missions shall contribute to the overall scientific objectives of the ENRESSH - European Network for Research Evaluation in the Social Sciences and the Humanities  and enable eligible researchers to learn new techniques or gain access to specific expertise, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions.

The challenge of the Action is to enable the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) to better demonstrate their true place in academia and society. To do so, the Action proposes to bring together different strands of work consecrated to SSH research evaluation, currently under development in different parts of Europe, in order to gain momentum, to exchange best practices and results, and to avoid unnecessary duplication.

A call for three topics has been opened:

• Scholars’ perceptions of research quality and quality criteria (Location: FORS, Lausanne (and maybe ETH Zurich), Switzerland; duration between 2 weeks and 2 months)
• Developing a typology of impact pathways for social sciences and the humanities (Location: Center for Higher Education and Policies Studies (CHEPS) at the University of Twente, Enschede, The Nederlands, duration between 1 and 2 months)
• Comparison of national and regional databases of social sciences and humanities research outcomes (Location: Centre for R&D Monitoring (ECOOM) at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, duration between 2 weeks and 3 months)

More details on the respective topics are provided in the attached document.

A STSM applicant must be engaged in a research programme as a PhD Student or postdoctoral fellow or can be employed by, or affiliated to, an institution or legal entity which has within its remit a clear association with performing scientific research. Researchers holding their primary affiliation at an institution located in a participating COST Country are eligible to receive an ENRESSH STSM grant. Researchers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, FYR of Macedonia and Serbia are welcome to apply as well.  More information on eligibility is also provided in the attached document.

For the first Call for STSM Applications all STMS activities / Missions must occur between 30/10/2016 and 30/01/2017

The financial support is a contribution to the overall expenses incurred during the STSM and may not necessarily cover all of the associated outgoings. Funding conditions are outlined in the attached call and include e.g. travel expenses are reimbursed up to EUR 500, for accomoation and meals a max of EUR 160 / day can be considered, etc.) -> A maximum of EUR 2500 in total can be afforded to the grantee.

More information on the selection criteria and the mode to apply and further information on the timeline are also provided in the attachment. For any further questions, please contact Mimi Urbanc (mimi@zrc-sazu.si).

Source: enressh