COST has implemented a new tool – Virtual Mobility Grants (VMG) – designed to fund remote collaborations. Several tasks are eligible for funding such as data collection and analysis, content preparation for communication, and virtual mentoring – provided they generate benefit for the Action. Funding to each grantee is up to EUR 1500. Details can be found in the Vademecum (Vademecum 01052018 Clean (cost.eu) Section 10 Virtual Networking Tools) and FAQs (FAQ-VNTs-Final-Version-1.pdf (cost.eu)).
Applicants for VMGs and potential hosts are welcome to contact the Action Virtual Networking Support Manager Raquel Lucas (rlucas@med.up.pt) throughout the process for any additional information or support. Potential VMGs and instructions on how to apply can be found below.
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Strategy on Virtual Networking for OMEGA-NET
Approved by the Management Committee 12/07/2021
Main goals:
- Collect proposed topics for Virtual Mobility Grants (VMG) from potential hosts in July 2021. In order to optimize the use of allocated funding, 2-3 of the VMGs may be allocated to priority tasks within the Action, and the remaining VMGs may be left open in terms of topic. The predefined VMGs topics may be decided after surveying the MC, including WG and Task leaders;
- Announce a call for VMGs on the topics proposed in July-August 2021, aiming to achieve 6 VMGs completed until the end of the current GP (31 October 2021);
- Together with the existing STSM evaluation committee, establish the evaluation criteria and assess each individual application to VMGs, namely in terms of merit of the applicant and workplan, inclusiveness and contribution to Action goals;
- Provide practical and continuous support for applicants to VMGs. The VN Support Manager has been involved in advising previous STSM and ITC grant applicants with regard to their work plans and has experience as an ITC researcher (and an ECI until recently), as well as an STSM host and home supervisor. These experiences will be useful to advise grantees throughout the application process;
- Promote enhanced virtual networking among early career researchers. Previous Action meetings have included, both in-person and online, an event for research exchange directed to early career researchers. These have been positively assessed by participants and it would be relevant to use this experience to establish more regular exchanges among early career researchers who would like to discuss their plans, both scientific and related to career management, ideally moderated by senior scientists;
- Extend the ongoing webinar series, which we have hosted from Porto since March 2021, potentially until April 2022 with topics aligned with the MoU objectives, and to propose a brief tool to assess participants’ experiences with this format;
- Host the Annual meeting of the Action to be held in October 2021, and use feedback from MC and WG members on previous remote initiatives to optimize the involvement of all stakeholders and to improve the effectiveness of break-out sessions for smaller groups, including early career investigators;
- Support the organization of the virtual training school “Training Course on Occupational Epidemiology: Modern Methods and Harmonised Approaches – OMEGA-NET”, to be held from 21 September to 7 October 2021, including support for sharing of training resources
- Provide a designated focal point and a set of recommendations for virtual networking among MC and WG members that can support the organization of remote exchanges not comprised above but within the scope of the Action.
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List of VMGs
1. WG1 Inventory of Cohorts, Extension of Cohort Inventory from Europe to International Cohorts
Host: ISGlobal (Spain); Dr Michelle Turner (michelle.turner@isglobal.org)
Objectives: To conduct a mapping of occupational cohorts studies outside of Europe, in particular in Asia and Western Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, to work to invite cohort principal investigators from relevant international cohorts to complete the cohort inventory questionnaire, to conduct quality control of cohort entries in the inventory.
Begin date and duration: Anytime from August 1 2021, suggested duration minimum 10 days.
2. COVID-19 JEM comparison and evaluation [CLOSED]
Host: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (Utrecht University, NL) and INSERM (+Univ Angers/CHU Angers, France); Dr Susan Peters (s.peters@uu.nl)
Objectives: Comparison of two job-exposure matrices (JEMs) that have been developed for assessing the risk of covid-19 infections at the workplace: one for Denmark the Netherlands, and the UK, and one for France. The comparison and evaluation could result in a scientific manuscript.
Begin date and duration: As soon as possible, duration 2-3 months
3. Knowledge gaps in occupational health research [CLOSED]
Host: Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (Utrecht University, NL) and STAMI (National Institute of Occupational Health, Norway); Dr Susan Peters (s.peters@uu.nl)
Objectives: Combining and harmonizing data provided by six working groups on this topic. This work will be conducted in the framework of EPHOR, a H2020 EU-project that builds on the OMEGA-Net cost action. The candidate will be invited as co-author on the planned publication.
Begin date and duration: As soon as possible, duration 2-3 months
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How to Apply for a VMG
Please follow these steps:
- Contact the potential host with a demonstration of interest.
- With support from the host, fill in the VMG application form here and email it to the VNS manager, Raquel Lucas (rlucas@med.up.pt), copying the Action Chair, Ingrid S. Mehlum (ingrid.s.mehlum@stami.no).
- After pre-approval from the VMG coordinating group, submit the official application online through the e-cost system (https://e-services.cost.eu/activity/grants/add).
