Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Simons Foundation Inc.
Last Updated: December 19, 2025

Summary

The Simons Foundation's Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences program offers funding for up to five years to support high-risk theoretical projects in mathematics, physics, and computer science. This initiative aims to promote innovative research with significant scientific importance. Applications are welcome from established educational institutions and research centers, with no specific funding levels required. The program emphasizes theoretical work but may consider projects with experimental components.

Overview

The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division invites applications for its Targeted Grants in MPS program. Rationale The program is intended to support high-risk theoretical mathematics, physics and computer science projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis. Funding The Targeted Grant in MPS program provides funding for up to five years. The funding level and duration is flexible and should be appropriate based on the type of support requested in the proposal. There is no recommended or assumed funding level for this program.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applications may be submitted by established U.S. and foreign public and private educational institutions and stand-alone research centers. PIs and co-Investigators must have a Ph.D. and a tenure-track or tenured position at said institutions or centers. There are no citizenship or department requirements for PIs.Allowable expenses include:Up to one month of summer salary and related benefits per year for the PI and any co-Investigator(s). These salary funds are not substitutional (cannot be used to relieve a university of salary costs) and cannot be used to reduce teaching loads below the departmental norm. They can only be used to supplement the salary similarly to a summer salary in the U.S. system.Domestic or international travel for the PI(s), co-Investigator(s) and students, as appropriate. Parking, hotel, taxi, registration and other related travel and conference costs are allowable.Salary support and related benefits, including tuition support, for staff/research scientists, postdoctoral fellows and research associates, graduate students or undergraduate research assistants.Support for visitors and collaborators, including domestic and international travel, meals and lodging expenses.Conferences and working meetings appropriate to the needs of the project, including meals, travel, lodging, vehicle rentals for participants and facility fees.Research equipment, experiments, computations, supplies and other expenses directly related to the research, including computers, computer support, professional literature, publication expenses and professional membership dues.

Ineligibility

We do not accept applications from adjunct faculty members.We are not considering proposals in chemistry at this time.While there are no fixed guidelines, projects at the single- or few-PI scale that might be funded by federal agencies would not normally be considered under the Targeted Grants in MPS program.Funding to U.S. national labs or salary support of scientists employed at these labs is not allowed.