Junior researchers in quantitative methods for the social sciences are invited to  apply for participation in a new scientific programme of the European Science  Foundation (ESF).

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (QMSS)
A European Science Foundation Scientific Programme (2003-2007)

Applications are invited for places on three workshop/seminars, supported by  the Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences programme of the European  Science Foundation. These integrated workshops and seminars, the first in a  series of twelve, will provide opportunities for junior researchers to undertake  high-level training in the latest developments in quantitative methods. They will  also enable junior and senior researchers to interact and share ideas and  expertise based upon recent research.

These three workshop/seminars will take place in August and September 2004  on subjects within the following topic areas:

- Theory and Practice in the Analysis of Longitudinal Data;
- Theory and Practice in the Analysis of Cross-National Cross-Sectional Data;
- Measurement, Data Collection and Data Quality.

Each event will consist of a one-week workshop providing high-level training,  led by two leading researchers in the field, followed by a two day seminar at  which additional senior researchers will present and discuss research at the  cutting edge of the field.

Applications to participate in these events are invited from well-qualified junior  scholars, who are researching quantitative methods or using quantitative  methods in research in the social sciences and who are seeking to extend and  broaden their skills.

Thirty junior scholars will be selected to participate in each workshop/seminar,  fifteen with primarily substantive research interests in the social sciences and  fifteen with primarily methodological interests. Selection will be primarily on  the basis of merit, subject to consideration of balance with respect to country  and discipline.

The accommodation and meal costs at the workshop/seminars will be covered.  Only in exceptional cases of hardship, will contributions be made to travel costs.

Eligibility: Applicants should be completing, or have recently completed,  doctoral work in a relevant field of study and should be from one of the nineteen  participating European countries (listed on the web-site below).

Application Procedure: Applications should consist of a short CV together with  a covering letter of no more than 500 words in English. The letter should  include an explanation of how the applicant's research plans relate both to the  QMSS programme and, specifically, to any of the workshops. A  recommendation letter by a PhD supervisor or other established scholar is also  required.

Applications should be sent by e-mail by 16 April 2004 to the Programme  Coordinator, Mrs. Julia D'Arrigo, Southampton Statistical Sciences Research  Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK, e-mail  [log in to unmask] All applicants will be informed about the outcome  through e-mail by June 2004.

Further information about the programme is available via the ESF website at  http://www.esf.org/qmss or the QMSS website at  http://www.s3ri.soton.ac.uk/qmss.