Funded Observerships

To apply for an ESCMID funded observership, please follow these steps

Select an ECC and reach an agreement: 

• Select and decide on an ECC using the «ECC search» function
• Get in contact with the ECC using the email address you find on the ECC profile webpage 
• Upon agreement with the ECC, receive your endorsement letter stating both the purpose and dates of observership

Send an official application:

• Use your ESCMID member login details to connect
• Click the ‘Apply now for observership’ link at the top of the ECC profile page
• Select funded observership
• Complete and submit your request through the online application form with your endorsement letter, CV, proof of current position and letter of support from your supervisor as attachments

Receive a final approval: 

• The ESCMID Professional Affairs Subcommittee will evaluate your application and make a decision
• Our Executive Office will notify you of the evaluation results around 8 weeks after the deadline for applications has closed
   

To qualify for an ESCMID funded observership, please make sure you meet our eligibility criteria:

• Be an active ESCMID YSM or LMIC member fulfilling the criteria of Young Scientist Membership
• Submit an application for only one active ECC per application cycle
• Have not participated in any ESCMID observership within the last 12 months prior to the application deadline
• Observers from outside of Europe may only apply for a funded observership at a European ECC
• Observers from within Europe may apply for a funded observership at any ECC, except those within their own country
• Agree with an ECC on a clear purpose for your visit which will be listed in the endorsement letter, documented on the letter-head paper of the ECC before applying. The ECC should confirm both the purpose and dates of observership in the application
• Request one endorsement letter at a time and must keep the ECCs informed in case no application was submitted.
• Keep in mind visa application wait times before choosing your ECC and dates, if relevant
  Please note either ESCMID nor the ECC can guarantee flexibility in changing visit dates should there be any delays with the visa process
• Provide a letter of support from your supervisor or mentor showing how your institute would benefit from the learnings gained during the funded observership
• Receive official approval from ESCMID and meet the necessary requirements post-visit in order to be reimbursed

Submitted applications will be reviewed based on a specific range of criteria:

• Your concrete objectives for the proposed observership visit, including a rationale for taking part in an observership that can be verified by your head of department and stated in the letter of support.
• The reason must include an explanation of how the acquired techniques will be shared among colleagues or incorporated within the home institution.
• Your rationale for choosing the particular ECC, based on the expertise offered there.
• Your key professional interests and how the ECC is relevant to these interests.
• Your CV, including contact information, educational qualifications, work experience, and publications or presentations. You should be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme or hold a postgraduate degree, and also be currently working in CM/ID or related fields.
• A signed letter from your head of department, certifying your employment as stated in the provided CV and a verification of the objective (see point 1 of criteria above).

Intra-European Observership visits

For funded observerships, ESCMID is happy to sponsor your travel costs according to our regulations. ESCMID member from Europe visits an ECC in Europe ESCMID subsidises travel costs and subsistence for outside-of-country visits as follows:

• A maximum of 500 EUR to cover your travel expenses (airfare, train tickets, and car expenses at 0.3 EUR/km)
• 70 EUR/day for a maximum of 10 days to cover any expenses onsite during your visit (accommodation, food, transportation, etc.)

Intercontinental Observership visits

ESCMID member from outside Europe visits an ECC in Europe or ESCMID member from Europe visits an ECC outside Europe: ESCMID subsidises travel costs and subsistence for outside-of-country visits as follows:

• A maximum of 1,300 EUR to cover your travel expenses (airfare, train tickets, and car expenses at 0.3 EUR/km)
• 70 EUR/day for a maximum of 10 days to cover any expenses onsite during your visit (accommodation, food, transportation, etc.)

A list of countries and respective geographic regions can be viewed here

After completing your funded observership, you will need to submit an official evaluation form, including a report, to be published on the ECC website or in any other ESCMID publication. ESCMID may share your name when publishing this report.