Fellows-to-Faculty Award (formerly The Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain Transition to Independence Award) Grant

Fellows-to-Faculty Award (formerly The Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain Transition to Independence Award) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Simons Foundation Inc.
Amount: Up to US $600,000
Last Updated: November 02, 2025

Summary

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award supports early career scientists transitioning to tenure-track faculty positions. Offering a $600,000 research grant, it emphasizes diversity by prioritizing applicants from underrepresented backgrounds in science. This initiative encourages fellows to develop independent labs and pursue impactful research in autism and neuroscience, fostering an interdisciplinary scientific community. By providing resources for career development, the program aims to empower fellows to negotiate faculty positions confidently and advance their research vision.

Overview

NOTE:  Applications for the next iteration of the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain Transition to Independence Award will open under a new program name: the Fellows-to-Faculty Award. Fellows-to-Faculty Award The Fellows-to-Faculty Award is a new iteration of the previously offered Simons Foundation Independence Awards. The Fellows-to-Faculty Award program supports talented early career scientists and their research vision as they transition into tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. Fellows receive funding toward the end of their postdoctoral career and a commitment of a $600,000 USD faculty research grant. Fellows engage in a lively, interdisciplinary scientific community and participate in career development activities. These resources enable fellows to confidently negotiate a supportive faculty job offer, build an independent research lab, and assertively pursue their research interests. The program is intended for senior postdoctoral scholars or equivalent researchers whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science and whose future research program advances research in the areas of science supported by the Simons Foundation’s Autism and Neuroscience division. Applicants must be ready to apply for faculty positions. Fellows may activate the award funding at institutions located within or outside the United States. The program aims to support scientists whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science, such as members of historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals whose gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and/or disability status is underrepresented in science, or other individuals with disadvantaged social and/or economic backgrounds. We also recognize that diversity and underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting and across countries. For the 2025 request for applications (RFA), we seek to support scientists whose scientific vision for their future independent laboratory contributes to the mission of either or both of the following scientific areas: Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), consistent with SFARI scientific perspectivesSimons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB), consistent with the SCPAB’s mission Fellows are expected to transition to a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position any time between notification of their selection for the award and the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Application Details

Fellows-to-Faculty Award
Full 2025 Request for Applications Guidelines
The Fellows-to-Faculty Award is a new iteration of the previously offered Simons Foundation
Independence Awards.
In order to advance the frontiers of research in science, the Simons Foundation’s Autism &
Neuroscience division recognizes the need for diverse ideas and perspectives that contribute to
the scientific enterprise. We offer the Fellows-to-Faculty Award program to identify scientists
with extraordinary potential to advance to our scientific areas of interest and nurture greater
diversity in our scientific community.
This award supports talented early career scientists and their research vision as they transition
into tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. Fellows engage in a lively, interdisciplinary
community and participate in scientific and career development activities.
The 2025 request for applications is intended for senior postdoctoral scholars or equivalent
researchers whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science and whose
future research program advances the mission of either the Simons Foundation Autism
Research Initiative (SFARI) or Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB).
Fellows may activate awards at research institutions within or outside the United States.
Informational Webinar: Register here for an informational webinar about the
Fellows-to-Faculty Award on October 16, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The webinar will be
recorded and available on this webpage within two weeks.
Deadline for application submission: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on Tuesday,
January 14, 2025.
Scientific Areas
For the 2025 request for applications (RFA), we seek to support scientists whose scientific
vision for their future independent laboratory contributes to the mission of either or both of the
following scientific areas:
● Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), consistent with SFARI scientific
perspectives
● Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB), consistent with the
SCPAB’s mission

We welcome applications from scientists with a previous background in these areas and those
newly applying their expertise to these areas. We aim to foster a diverse, interdisciplinary and
collaborative scientific community to promote innovation in science.
Individuals may submit an application to SFARI, SCPAB or both. If submitting to both areas,
applicants must submit two (2) separate applications, tailored to the respective scientific areas.
If selected, applicants may only accept one award.
Timeline for Transition to a Faculty Position
Fellows are expected to transition to a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position any time
between notification of their selection for the award and the end of the 2026-2027 academic
year. To that end, fellows are expected to apply to faculty positions between September
2025-May 2026.
Funding
Each fellow is provided up to five (5) years of financial support, split into a faculty research
award over three (3) years and an optional postdoctoral award for a maximum of two (2) years.
For either phase, the fellow may be affiliated with institutions located within or outside the United
States. Awards must be administered through the fellow's institution. Please refer to our grant
policies for guidelines. Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations The
Simons Foundation, Inc. reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation
International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI’s grant policies would
apply.
Faculty Research Award
The central focus of this award program is the Faculty Research Award, which is intended to
support the fellow’s scientific research vision over the first three (3) years of their independent
lab.
To hold this grant, the fellow must be in a tenure-track or equivalent faculty position at a suitable
institution that demonstrates an adequate institutional environment (e.g., start-up package and
laboratory space) to support successful completion of the scientific proposal. Before signing a
faculty job offer, the fellow should confirm with Simons Foundation staff that the position is
suitable.
Fellows are expected to activate this grant within the first 12 months of starting their faculty
position. In order to activate the Faculty Research Award, the fellow is required to submit an
application 2-3 months prior to the desired award start date. Review of the Faculty Research
Award application is a non-competitive, internal process intended to confirm that the fellow has
secured a suitable position.

The Faculty Research Award includes:
● Total budget of $600,000 USD, inclusive of 20 percent indirect costs, intended as a
supplement to a full institution-provided start-up package. Funds may be used for
reasonable costs related to the fellow’s scientific research, including salary support for
laboratory personnel and specialized equipment, such as microscopes. Funds may not
be used for: 1) the fellow’s salary support and 2) general lab equipment, such as
freezers and refrigerators.
There is no minimum percent effort for the Faculty Research Award.
Postdoctoral Award
The Postdoctoral Award is intended to support the fellow while on the faculty job market during
their transition to the faculty position. Fellows are not required to use the Postdoctoral Award.
To hold this grant, the fellow must be a postdoctoral researcher or hold an equivalent
non-independent, mentored training position (see FAQ). The grant is intended to support a
full-time research position with no teaching obligations. The Postdoctoral Award must be
activated on September 1, 2025. The end date of the Postdoctoral Award is the date the fellow
departs from their postdoctoral position in order to transition to a faculty position or August 31,
2027, whichever occurs first. The Postdoctoral Award includes the following, annually:
● $85,000 USD stipend
● $10,000 USD career development allowance intended for the fellow’s exclusive and
flexible use for costs that contribute to the success of the fellow in the transition to a
tenure-track or equivalent faculty position. Allowable expenses include, but are not
limited to, laptop and software purchases, travel-related expenses, conference and
workshops costs and more.
● $15,000 USD health insurance and other benefits allowance which may be spent on
health insurance for the fellow and family and other benefits as required by the
institution.
No indirect or overhead costs may be charged.
Reallocation:
No reallocation from the stipend to the career development allowance or health insurance and
other benefits allowance is permitted.
Reallocation from the career development allowance to the health insurance and other benefits
allowance will only be considered under exceptional circumstances with strong justification. The
request and justification must be submitted in advance and requires pre-approval by the Simons
Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division leadership.

Reallocation from the health insurance and other benefits allowance to the career development
allowance is permitted and does not require pre-approval by the Simons Foundation’s Autism &
Neuroscience division leadership.
Carry-forward:
No carry-forward of unexpended funds from the stipend is permitted.
Carry-forward of unexpended funds from the career development allowance and health
insurance and other benefits allowance from one grant year to the next is permitted.
Funds may be supplemented from other sources of funding, e.g., the fellow’s institution,
mentoring Principal Investigator or another fellowship if permissible under the terms of that
fellowship.
There is no minimum percent effort for the Postdoctoral Award.
The postdoctoral award funds cannot be transferred to the fellow’s faculty institution or added to
the faculty research award. Any unspent funds at the end of the grant must be returned to the
foundation. No-cost extensions will not be considered except in cases of a leave of absence
approved by your institution.
Community Activities
Community is an integral part of the Fellows-to-Faculty Award. Please visit the
Fellows-to-Faculty Award website to learn more about our community.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Fellows-to-Faculty Award, applicants must meet the following criteria. We
will rely on applicants’ signed self-attestation and cannot make a formal determination regarding
identity, disability status or social and/or economic background. We recognize that diversity
varies across different settings and across countries. For additional information, see our FAQ.
● The program is for individuals whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in
science, such as members of historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups,
individuals whose gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and/or disability status is
underrepresented in science, or other individuals with disadvantaged social and/or economic
backgrounds.
○ We consider applicants to have come from a disadvantaged background if they
meet at least two (2) of the following criteria:
■ Current or prior homelessness;
■ Current or prior participation in the foster care system;

■ Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s
degree;
■ Current or prior eligibility for government-assisted meal programs, such
as, for U.S. applicants, the U.S. Federal Free and Reduced Lunch
Program;
■ Current or prior eligibility for government-assisted programs for
low-income individuals, such as, for U.S. applicants, the U.S. Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children as a
parent or child;
■ For U.S. applicants, current or prior eligibility for U.S. Federal Pell grants;
or
■ For U.S. applicants, grew up in one of the following areas: (a) a U.S. rural
area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration
Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer or (b) Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional
Shortage Areas (qualifying zip codes are included in the file).
● U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status is not required.
● Applicants must hold a Ph.D. and/or M.D., or equivalent degree.
● Applicants must be currently in a non-independent, mentored training position.
● Applicants must be actively seeking and applying to tenure-track faculty positions at
research institutions within or outside the U.S. between September 2025 and May 2026.
Independence Fellows are expected to apply, secure and transition to a tenure-track faculty
position at a research institution within or outside the U.S. by the end of the 2026-2027
academic year.
● Applicants may not simultaneously hold other career development awards that facilitate a
transition to an independent research career.
● Applicants must not have accepted a formal offer for a tenure-track faculty position by the
time of award notification.
● Individuals who have already applied to any Simons Foundation Independence Awards
(e.g., SFARI Bridge to Independence Award, SCGB Transition to Independence Award,
SCPAB Transition to Independence Award) for any two (2) years in the past are not eligible
to apply to the Fellows-to-Faculty Award.
● Applicants may submit applications to one or more science areas offered by the
Fellows-to-Faculty Award in a given application RFA cycle. Applicants are limited to
submitting applications to the Fellows-to-Faculty Award for a maximum of two (2) application
RFA cycles.
All applicants with proposals under review who have a change in their eligibility status, for
example, due to acceptance of a faculty position or career development awards, must notify the
Simons Foundation as soon as possible.
Application, Interview and Review Process
Deadline: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.

Applicants must review the Full 2025 Request for Applications Guidelines (this
document), How to Apply and FAQs before applying. Applications must be submitted via the
Simons Award Manager (SAM).
The scope of the application and scientific proposal should be similar to that of a faculty job
application and include specific research directions and clearly defined implications for research
in the science area to which you are applying. Applicants are required to focus their scientific
proposal on their plans for their future lab, not the remainder of their postdoctoral position nor a
specific three (3) year project proposal. The central focus of this award program is the Faculty
Research Award, and therefore postdoctoral-level research aims or training goals should not be
included in the application.
Applications are reviewed by Simons Foundation scientific staff and an expert review
committee. Finalists will be invited for a short virtual interview in May 2025.
Reviewers will assess criteria related to the applicant’s scientific research vision and potential
implications for the selected scientific area, ability to formulate an impactful, innovative and
feasible research plan, demonstrated preparedness for a tenure-track position at this time, and
plans for contributing to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in your own independent
laboratory.
Resubmission Policy
Please note, applicants are limited to submitting applications to the Fellows-to-Faculty Award for
a maximum of two (2) application RFA cycles.
For example, an applicant who submit applications for SFARI and SCPAB in this current 2025
RFA cycle may also submit applications for the science areas for next year’s 2026 RFA cycle
but cannot submit applications for any year after.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and
experiences. We are committed to grantmaking that inspires and supports greater diversity and
inclusiveness by cultivating a funding environment that ensures representation of all identities
and differences and equitable access to information and resources for all applicants and
grantees.
We provide equal opportunities to all applicants for funding without regard to race, religion,
color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic
disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under
federal, state and local law. We also fund programs directed at supporting scientists from
disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, often working closely with
professional societies and other funding agencies.

Important Dates
Applicants
Applications Notifiedof Postdoctoral
SAMOpens
Informational andLetters FinalistsInvited SFARI SCPAB Funding AwardStart
for
Applications Webinar Due forInterviews Interviews Interviews Decisions Date
October2, October16, January14, May19and July18, September
2024 2024 2025 May5,2025 20,2025 May29,2025 2025 1,2025
Contacts
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)
● Administrative Inquiries: sfarigrants@simonsfoundation.org
● Scientific Inquiries: sciencerfa@simonsfoundation.org
Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB)
● Administrative Inquiries: neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org
● Scientific Inquiries: agingbrain@simonsfoundation.org
Technical Assistance
● samsupport@simonsfoundation.org
OfficeHours:Monday-Friday9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.EasternTime
OfficeClosures:TheSimonsFoundationofficeswillbeclosedNovember27-December1,2024,and
December24,2024-January1,2025.