This Call provides for one STSM to be concluded by the end of Grant Period 2 (30 April 2019).
Applications under this call are required to address the scientific priority of the ERBFacility Working Group 3 (Collections Arena) and take account of the preferred timing, as outlined below.
Purpose of the Call
The purpose of this call is to contribute to ERBFacility Objective R2: To develop a framework for a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank (ERSpeB) for contaminant monitoring. Existing raptor specimen collections in NHMs and ESBs have only in a very few cases been made with contaminant monitoring in mind; those collections which aredesigned to meet contaminant monitoring needs are national in scale (e.g. UK Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme [Walker et al. 2008]). There is therefore a need to develop an ERSpeB framework to link and expand existing collections and, where appropriate, propose new regional collections, to meet ERBioMS needs.
Scientific Priorities for this Call
Applications under this call should relate to the scientific priority of the ERBFacility Working Group 3 (Collections Arena) to develop a framework for a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank (ERSpeB) for contaminant monitoring.
The development of a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank and the use of samples held by the ERSpeB for contaminant analysis implies the ability to ship samples between collections and from collections to laboratories, including across international borders within Europe.
Applications should focus on regulatory constraints to shipping of samples between collections from one country to another in Europe (both within and outside the EU). This should take in to account constraints relating to: (a) the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES); (b) the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity; (c) transport of (hazardous) biological materials. The mission should seek to identify differences between countries in the interpretation of regulatory requirements for the shipping of samples, identify good practice that facilitates the shipping of samples, and identify measures that may be taken to further facilitate shipping, such as specialised training and provision of guidance.
This STSM will ideally start by mid-March 2019 and must end no later than 30 April 2019. The length of this mission is expected to be between 30-45 days.
Suitable candidates for this STSM are likely to have previous experience, in a research collection context, in relation to the shipping of samples between countries in Europe, and good understanding of the related regulatory frameworks and current practice in implementation of these frameworks.
Call deadline
Applications must be submitted by midnight (CEST) on Friday 15 March 2019.
Call documents
You can download below:
- the STSM Call text providing full details of the missions available and how to apply
- template Letter of Support for a STSM (from the applicant's Home Institution)
- template Letter of Interest to Host a STSM (from the applicant's mission host)
- template Letter of Acceptance of a Scientific Report of a STSM (for the mission host to complete following receipt of the mission report)