Simons Fellows in Mathematics Grant

Simons Fellows in Mathematics Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Simons Foundation Inc.
Amount: Up to US $135,000
Last Updated: September 04, 2025

Summary

The Simons Fellows in Mathematics Grant supports faculty in extending sabbatical research leaves to a full academic year. This funding is aimed at enhancing productivity by providing salary replacement up to 50% (maximum $125,000) and up to $10,000 for related expenses. The grant encourages applications from underrepresented groups, and eligibility is restricted to faculty in mathematics departments with an active research program. Awards may begin as early as January 2024.

Overview

The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division invites applications for the Simons Fellows in Mathematics program to make sabbatical research leaves more productive by extending them from a single term to a full academic year. The foundation also strongly encourages applications from scientists from underrepresented groups. Rationale Sabbatical research leaves from classroom teaching and administrative obligations can provide strong intellectual stimulation and lead to increased creativity and productivity in theoretical research. Basis for Awards Awards will be based on the applicant’s scientific accomplishments in the five-year period preceding the application and on the potential scientific impact of the work to be done during the leave period. Level and Duration of Funding A Simons Fellowship in Mathematics provides salary replacement for up to 50 percent (up to a maximum of $125,000) of the Fellow’s current academic-year salary, whether normally paid over 9 or 12 months, and up to $10,000 for expenses related to the leave. The Fellow’s home institution will receive an additional 20 percent overhead on allowable expenses. Please note that the foundation’s indirect cost policy allows up to 20 percent of direct cost expenditures. Allowable Expenses Salary replacement funds are to be used only to replace or partly replace salary during academic terms in which the recipient would otherwise be teaching or engaging in academic administration or other departmental or university committee work. The funding may not be used for summer salary (if salary is paid over nine months) or to increase the academic-year salary beyond the university rate but may be paid out over the course of the full leave. Please follow the university’s policy on costs associated with sabbaticals not supported by the university. If applicable, fringe benefits are allowed within the salary-replacement-funds category, but the total amount requested cannot exceed the maximum allowed ($125,000). The additional funding is to be used to support expenses related to the leave in a manner consistent with the approved sabbatical plans. Allowable leave-related expenses include small equipment and supplies, travel (including the Fellow and the Fellow’s family members to and from the sabbatical location(s) and the Fellow’s travel to meetings and collaborators), housing (for the Fellow and the Fellow’s family), automobile rental, childcare and support for visitors (including meals). Salaries for students or research associates will not be supported, but funds may be used to help transport members of the Fellow’s research group to the sabbatical location (if different from the home institution) and provide housing. Leave-related expenses may be incurred at any time during the award period; they are not restricted to the terms in which salary is provided by the foundation.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligibility is restricted to sabbatical or equivalent leave-eligible faculty who wish to use the Simons Fellowship award for the purpose of extending at least a single-term sabbatical research leave to a full academic year without teaching or administrative responsibilities.In order to receive the fellowship, you must be approved by your institution for a full year of sabbatical research leave, consisting of two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters with at least 50 percent of the year fully paid by the home university and no more than 50 percent fully or partly supported by the fellowship. If funds from the foundation are insufficient to cover the salary needs for the period supported by the fellowship, other resources can be used for this purpose.The foundation will consider circumstances where, for example, the university covers 80 percent of a full year of leave and the fellowship covers the remaining 20 percent.Simons Fellow in Mathematics:A Simons Fellow in Mathematics must have a teaching or administrative tenured position at a U.S. or Canadian college or university within the mathematics department, at the time of application, throughout the course of the sabbatical, and in the term following the leave. This must be the applicant’s primary position. Applied mathematics and statistics disciplines are eligible as long as the applicant resides within the mathematics, and not statistics, department. In addition, a Fellow must have an active current research program.

Ineligibility

Fellows cannot simultaneously hold a Simons Investigator award.The fellowship program will not support the extension of a full year of sabbatical research leave to an additional term.Those doing primarily mathematical education research are not eligible.