Apply Now: New Grants to Support HBCU Faculty and Research Excellence

Applications are now open for two grant programs that will support faculty and new centers of excellence at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), continuing their legacy of advancing research and social mobility.

Three young women wearing graduation gowns and caps are smiling at the camera on graduation day. — Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have a long history of advancing scientific research while propelling social mobility and economic progress for low-income and underrepresented students. Although they represent just 3 percent of U.S. colleges and universities, HBCUs produce nearly 30 percent of Black graduates of science and engineering doctorate programs — milestones achieved with a small fraction of the resources available to other research institutions.

To continue this rich legacy of excellence, the Simons Foundation and Simons Foundation International have established two grant programs, supported by $23 million in funding over five years: the HBCU Centers of Excellence Program and the HBCU Faculty Fellowship Program. Applications for both programs are now open.

The HBCU Centers of Excellence Program will fund up to two Centers of Excellence in mathematics, neuroscience, physics, ecology or evolutionary biology. The program aims to foster research excellence and to provide pathways for students to successfully enroll in graduate STEM programs. It also aims to support HBCUs in engaging and collaborating with nearby leading research institutions.

The HBCU Faculty Fellowship Program will fund faculty fellowships across the same disciplines at up to five HBCUs. Faculty at HBCUs often carry heavier teaching loads than their counterparts at “R1” research institutions— the nation’s top-tier, most heavily funded research universities — limiting the time available for sustained research and hampering the ability of HBCU students to engage in research during the academic year. The fellowships will address this gap, enabling faculty to dedicate half of their professional time to research while engaging students throughout the academic year.

You can learn more and apply for each program, with letters of intent due November 12:

Simons Centers of Excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Simons Historically Black Colleges and Universities Faculty Fellowship

We encourage interested applicants to register for an informational webinar on October 6. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].