STSM call 8 – Project proposals

Eight call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSM) of the COST Action MiCropBiomes – Project proposals

Dear colleagues,

We are inviting interested parties to submit STSM host offers by 24 June 2026. Host offers should be sent to the Grant Awarding Coordinator (ivan.nikolic@bio.bg.ac.rs).

The submitted opportunities will be advertised to potential applicants via website, who will be invited to apply directly to the proposed host supervisors. Host supervisors will then review the applications and select a suitable candidate.

Selected applicants must complete and submit their STSM application through the eCOST platform (https://e-services.cost.eu/user/login) no later than 8 July 2026. All submitted applications will subsequently be evaluated by the Grant Awarding Committee.

Approved STSMs should be carried out during the period from 13 July to 13 October 2026.

Each STSM host offer should include the following information:

Host institution and country,
Name and contact details of the host supervisor,
Title of the proposed STSM topic/project,
Short description of the research opportunity (approximately 150–300 words),
Expected skills, expertise, or background of the applicant,
Preferred duration of the STSM,
Any specific requirements or conditions (e.g., motivation letter, research background, expected outcomes).

Since this funding period ends at October 31, 2024, all proposed STSMs need to finish before September 30, 2024 If this timing does not suit you, please consider proposing a STSM project for the next grant period, which will start on November 1, 2024.

The deadline for submitting STSM project proposals was June 24, 2026.

The deadline for applying for a proposed STSM project is July 8, 2026.

Project proposals will be posted on this page as soon as they are received (see below).

Generally, STSM are:

Exchange visits between researchers involved in a COST Action, allowing scientists to visit an institution or laboratory in another COST country;
Aimed at fostering collaboration, sharing new techniques and infrastructure that may not be available in other participants’ institutions or laboratories;
Minimum of 5 calendar days.

The financial contribution for such an STSM will be a fixed grant based on the applicant’s budget request and the evaluation of the application by the Grant Awarding Committee (max. 4000 € in total, covering travel and subsistence, i.e., accommodation and meal expenses).

Please consult the Excerpt from the Annotated Rules for COST Actions and the Grant Awarding User guide for more details on eligibility for application and the reimbursement rules. Please be aware that STSM grants do not necessarily cover all expenses related to undertaking a given mission.

Please note that the name and affiliation of all grantees, STSM project titles and host institutes will be published on the MiCropBiomes website. STSM reports will be published unless they contain confidential data. All other information will be kept confidential.

If you require any additional information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Grant Awarding Coordinator.

Project proposals:

Bioinformatics and NGS-based microbiome analysis of intercropping systems and cultivated and wild blueberries (Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Project proposal for download
Development of a modular Tn7-based genetic tagging system for plant-associated bacteria (Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, Germany) – Project proposal for download
In planta quantification of type III secretion system and amylovoran biosynthesis relative gene expression in Erwinia amylovora under thermally variable conditions with and without biocontrol agent co-inoculation (Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Italy) – Project proposal for download
New approaches to discriminate plant pathogens (Xanthomonadales, Pseudomonadales) using the new IR-Biotyper (University of Porto /REQUIMTE, Portugal) – Project proposal for download
Vertical transmission of seed endophytes in kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis): culturomics and metabarcoding analysis (Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Italy) – Project proposal for download

With kind regards,
Ralf Koebnik (WG5 Vice Leader and Webmaster)
Ivan Nikolić (Grant Awarding Coordinator)