Call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

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by

Alphaeus Lien-Talks
in

COST Action CA23141 – MAIA (Managing Artificial Intelligence in Archaeology), 2025-2026

Applications are invited for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) under the COST Action MAIA, a European research network dedicated to advancing ethical, effective, and technically robust applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in archaeology. MAIA brings together archaeologists, computer scientists, and digital specialists to develop best practices, consolidate expertise, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

STSMs form a key instrument for achieving MAIA’s scientific goals. They support short research visits that strengthen cooperation between institutions, promote knowledge exchange, facilitate access to datasets and tools, and provide training across archaeology, AI, and the digital humanities. They are also intended to support early-career researchers while remaining open to all career stages.

 Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs)

What Are STSMs?

Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are mobility grants enabling researchers to visit a host institution in another COST country for the purpose of acquiring new skills, accessing data or methods unavailable at their home institution, and contributing to the scientific objectives of the Action. The missions are designed to advance MAIA’s aims by:

  • facilitating short-term scientific exchanges,
  • strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration,
  • supporting training in AI-related archaeological methods,
  • enabling access to specific data, tools, and expertise, and
  • encouraging participation from early-career researchers.

Who Can Apply?

·   Eligible applicants must be engaged in an official research programme as PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, or employees/affiliates of institutions involved in research activities.

·   Applicants must be based in one of the eligible COST countries.

·   STSMs must always be performed between two different eligible countries; missions within the applicant’s own country are not permitted.

·   A list of MAIA institutions willing to host STSM grantees is available, but applicants may also propose host institutions that are not MAIA-affiliated. For more information, please see the list of MAIA institutions

·   Awards will be made in line with COST’s core principles of excellence, inclusivity, and balanced participation across gender, geography, and career stage.

What Do STSMs Provide?

  • Duration: 5 to 90 days (up to 180 days for Early Career Investigators: PhD + <8 years).
  • Maximum grant: EUR 3,000, covering travel, accommodation, subsistence, and project-related costs.
  • Grants are contributions rather than full reimbursements. Differentiated rates may apply according to the cost of living in the host country.
  • STSMs may be combined with other funding sources, which must be acknowledged.

Payment is normally issued after completion of the STSM and approval of the final report. Researchers from Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs) may request pre-payment of 50% once the host institution confirms the start of the mission.

Grantees are responsible for their own personal insurance, health, social security, and taxation matters.

Applicants must clearly explain the aims of their STSM, its alignment with MAIA’s scientific objectives, the planned activities, expected outputs, and an itemised budget.

How to Apply

Call deadline: 31.01.2026

STSMs must be completed by: 15.09.2026

Application Procedure

  1. Submit an application through e-COST: https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants
  2. If you do not yet have an e-COST account, create one and provide your bank details for potential grant transfer.
  3. Obtain a letter of invitation from the Host Institution confirming availability for the proposed dates.
  4. Complete, submit, and download the STSM application form via e-COST.
  5. Email the application form and all supporting documents to the STSM Coordinator, Dr Despina Catapoti, with subject line: MAIA – STSM application – [Applicant’s Name].
  6. The required supporting documents are:
    • Letter of invitation from the Host Institution.
    • The submitted STSM application form (downloaded after online submission).
    • A project description (max. 1000 words) including:
      • overview of proposed activities,
      • workplan,
      • explanation of contribution to MAIA’s scientific objectives,
      • outline of host expertise and resources.
    • A letter of support from the Home Institution.
    • A full CV (with publication list if applicable).
  7. The MAIA STSM Committee evaluates the proposal following the selection criteria described below. Evaluators are drawn from a multidisciplinary reviewer pool representing MAIA’s Working Groups to ensure transparency and balanced assessment. 
  8. The review period will last three weeks from the call deadline (ending on 21.02.2026), during which all applications will be examined and scored.
  9. If approved, the STSM Coordinator forwards the application to the Grant Holder and Action Chair for final verification. Applicants will be notified of the outcome within one week after this final verification step (by 28 February 2026), and successful applicants will receive the Grant Letter immediately thereafter.
  10. The Grant Holder sends the applicant a grant letter. The mission may begin only after this letter has been signed and returned. 

 After the STSM

  1. Within 30 days of completing the mission (15.10.2026), the grantee must submit a scientific report (max. 1000 words) to the STSM Coordinator and a senior researcher at the Host Institution. Failure to provide the report will result in cancellation of the grant.
  2. The report must include:
    • purpose of the mission,
    • description of work undertaken,
    • main results and outputs,
    • plans for future collaboration (if any),
    • planned publications (if applicable),
    • confirmation of successful completion by the Host.
    • An image illustrating the mission
  3. Payment of the grant is subject to approval of the report by the Action’s MC representatives and the Host Institution. Once approved, the Grant Holder proceeds with payment.

Criteria for Awarding STSMs

Applications will be evaluated according to COST’s principles of excellence, fairness, inclusiveness, and balanced participation. The following criteria (each scored 1–5) will be applied:

  1. Relevance to MAIA’s scientific objectives
  2. Quality and clarity of the proposed research
  3. Scientific rationale for the choice of Host Institution
  4. Institutional and geographical balance, including attention to ITC involvement
  5. Researcher’s profile, experience, and ability to complete the mission (with priority for Early Career Investigators)
  6. Expected outputs, including dissemination and publication potential