Date: April 15 – 17, 2026
Venue: The Agricultural University of Plovdiv is a university in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, TrakiyaTrakia, bl.”Mendeleev” 12, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Acrylamide is a chemical compound that forms naturally during high-temperature cooking of flour-based foods such as bread, biscuits, and other baked goods. This training school focuses on the development of integrated strategies for acrylamide reduction, involving agronomy, genetics, and the food industry. The aim is to give participants a clear understanding of the approaches being taken to reduce the presence of acrylamide in cereal products and how those approaches are interdependent.
Local Organization Team
- Tanya Curtis
- Bojin Bojinov
Who can apply as a trainee?
The training school is dedicated to young researchers, early career researchers, Ph.D students, innovators, food technologists, policymakers, and consumer organizations.
Who can be reimbursed as a trainee?
- Any researcher or innovator affiliated with:
- a legal entity in a COST Full/Cooperating member
- a legal entity in a Near Neighbor Country (NNC);
- The trainee must be present in person.
- The applicant must have an e-COST profile.
- Eligibility for the Training School participation and a reimbursement scheme are described in the Annotated Rules for COST Actions (section 6.4).
How to apply?
Applicants are invited to express their interest via this link: ACRYRED Training School (Bulgaria) – Trainee Application Form
In the link is required to upload the following documents:
- CV of applicants (in a Europass format https://europa.eu/europass/en).
- Motivation letter (Why do I want to apply? Why should I be selected? What are my expectations? How can I use new skills and knowledge? etc.)
- Recommendation Letter of a Working Group Leader
Deadline for submission: 11th March 2026
The number of trainees we can accept will be limited and it may be necessary to select applicants.
Applications will be assessed by an Assessment Committee consisting of the Chair, the ViceChair, the Grant Awarding Coordinator and the WG Leaders.
The criteria for selection and preferences of candidates are as follows:
- Relevance of the Applicant´s research area to the Training School topic;
- Active contribution of the Applicant in the COST working groups assessed by the WG leader expressed in the Recommendation Letter
- 1st time participant in ACRYRED COST networking tools 4) COST Excellence and Inclusiveness Policy:
- ITC, NNC and IPC members
- Young Researcher (< 40 years)
- Early-stage Researcher (< 4 years of research career)
- Gender balance
- Geographical diversity
After the evaluation process, the selected applicants will receive an official invitation of the COST Action with a link to the Acceptance of the event. Only after this step should they start to organize their trip.
Financial support - reimbursement
Expenses related to the participation in the Training School will be reimbursed according to the Annotated Rules for COST Actions.
What can be funded?
Long distance travel, subsistence and visas of invited participants.
Daily Allowance covers:
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Short distance travel: up to 100 km each way
Long distance travel
- Any travel > 100 km to/from participant’s place of affiliation and the training school location
- Paid based on face-value
- Limited to plane, train, bus, car, and ferry
- Maximum of 1500 EUR for all travel
- Travel cancellation insurance is eligible.
Visa, if required to travel to the training school location for the reimbursement, supporting documents are required:
- Receipt/stamp from the embassy/consulate
- Amount paid
- Administrative costs
After the Training School:
- Once the activity has ended, the attendee must submit relevant documentation in e-COST within 30 days after the end date of the training school.
- Payment must be claimed via e-COST.
For any questions regarding the organization, you may contact Tanya Curtis, Email: tanya.curtis@curtisanalytics.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you at the Training School in Plovdiv in April 2026!
