Simons Historically Black Colleges and Universities Faculty Fellowship – 2027 Request for Applications

The Simons Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Faculty Fellowship program, funded by Simons Foundation International (SFI) and administered by the Simons Foundation (SF), will support junior tenure-track faculty in mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and ecology and evolutionary biology at up to five (5) HBCU institutions by buying out a minimum of 50% of their teaching responsibilities. This protected research time will enable fellows to focus on conducting research, publishing findings and submitting federal grant proposals to build long-term research productivity. The program aims to foster research excellence and collaboration, and to provide pathways for students to successfully enroll in graduate STEM programs. Up to four (4) fellows may be nominated at each institution. Up to five (5) HBCU institutions will be selected to participate in the program.

This is an institutional grant awarded to HBCUs to fund faculty fellowships. One of the secrets to HBCU success is the faculty who invests time in teaching and mentoring students. Faculty at HBCUs often carry heavier teaching loads than their counterparts at R1 research institutions, which limits the time available for sustained research activity. This research productivity gap limits students’ ability to engage in research during the academic year. The Simons HBCU Faculty Fellowship directly addresses this gap by funding a 50% teaching buyout, allowing fellows to dedicate half of their professional time to research and to engaging students in research during the fellowship period.

Research Priorities

SF will prioritize proposals with ambitious research and training programs in cutting-edge computational, data-driven and theoretical basic science, and in mathematics. To illustrate: A mathematician focused on improving our understanding of the geometry of moduli spaces in a range of contexts or a physicist building computational models of complex systems would be well aligned with this priority. For neuroscience, computational modeling of biological and behavioral systems would be well aligned. For ecology and evolutionary biology, we are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research that jointly considers processes on both ecological and evolutionary timescales, or that links studies of ecology and evolution to other STEM fields, including physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry and other areas of biology, especially genetics. An ecologist conducting field-based observational studies as their primary research activity would be less competitive; however, proposals in which observational or experimental work meaningfully supplements a primary computational or theoretical program will be considered in exceptional cases.

Fellowship Structure: Teaching Buyout and Research Focus

Each fellow will have a minimum of 50% of their teaching responsibilities bought out for one to five (1–5) years. This protected research time is the core mechanism of the fellowship. Fellows will be expected to use this time to:

• Develop and execute an independent research agenda in their field;
• Produce peer-reviewed publications and scholarly outputs;
• Submit proposals to federal funders, including NSF and NIH, to build an externally funded research program;
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in their research.

Institutions will be required to confirm in their application that the teaching buyout will result in a genuine and verifiable reduction in the fellow’s teaching load, and that the freed time will be protected for research activity. SF reserves the right to request documentation of teaching load arrangements during the award period.

An informational webinar about the award program will be held on October 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time on Zoom. Register here.

Accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, are eligible to apply and nominate a cohort of junior tenure-track faculty candidates for consideration.

Each participating institution may nominate up to four (4) fellows in total across the eligible fields of mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and ecology and evolutionary biology, in any combination. To provide institutions with maximum flexibility in building their research capacity, nominations may include either:

• Current junior tenure-track faculty who already hold a position at the nominating institution, or
• Newly recruited junior tenure-track faculty whom the institution is actively recruiting or have recently hired into a tenure-track position.

In both cases, nominated faculty must hold or be formally offered a junior tenure-track position at the nominating institution at the time of the full application. Institutions are encouraged to use the fellowship as a recruitment tool to attract promising early-career researchers in the eligible fields.

Eligibility bar for nominated faculty: Nominated junior faculty will be expected to have at least one (1) peer-reviewed publication in a relevant field, or clear evidence of an active research program (e.g., a dissertation completed within the past five [5] years, a preprint under review or documented participation in an active research collaboration). SF recognizes that junior faculty at HBCUs may be at an early stage of their careers, and will evaluate candidates in light of their full trajectory and potential.

Each nomination must include a senior faculty member at the institution who will serve as a mentor to the fellow. Mentor expectations are described in the Mentoring Plan section below.

Simons Foundation (“the Foundation” or “SF”) employees who receive a W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from the Foundation, including employees of the Flatiron Institute, may not apply as a principal investigator (PI) to any SF or Simons Foundation International (“SFI”) Requests for Applications (RFAs) released by the Foundation. PIs and any project personnel listed on the application who will receive funding for salary; travel; support for students, postdocs or research staff; lab equipment, computing time or other individual expenses may not be employees of the Foundation, which includes the Flatiron Institute.

• Award Amount: Up to $320,000 USD per year over five (5) years, for a total award amount of $1,600,000 USD, inclusive of 20 percent indirect costs (see grant policies).
• Award Duration: September 1, 2027, through August 31, 2032. During year four (4), there is a possibility of a review-based extension.
• Number of Awards: We expect to select up to five (5) HBCU institutions for funding.
• Use of Funds: Allowable expenses include personnel costs (salary and fringe) for the fellows (including summer salary) and for the Primary Award Contact, mentor and postdoctoral researchers, as well as for travel, conference registration, supplies, equipment, publication support and research stipends for students. The Primary Award Contact’s percent effort should not exceed 15%. The mentor’s percent effort should not exceed 50%. The Primary Award Contact and the mentor(s) may include percent effort without claiming salary support from the grant. The fellows’ percent effort must be at least 50%.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) via Simons Award Manager (SAM) by 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time on November 12, 2026.

The Primary Award Contact is responsible for submitting the LOI. The Primary Award Contact should be a senior institutional leader, such as a Department Chair, Division Chair/Dean, Associate Dean or VP for Research. The Primary Award Contact should have the authority to affirm the institution’s commitment to the teaching buyout and mentoring structure. Primary Award Contacts will serve as the point of contact for the award and will be expected to manage award activities, such as submitting progress reports and disseminating outcomes. The Primary Award Contact may claim up to 15% effort.

When completing the LOI, applicants must refer to the “How to Apply” tab for details about the LOI requirements and submission instructions. LOIs will be reviewed by Simons Foundation staff.

Review criteria include:

1. Institutional Overview (0.5 page): A brief description of the institution’s current research infrastructure, existing STEM faculty, and capacity to host and support junior tenure-track fellows in the proposed field(s).
2. Proposed Research Fields and Fellows (0.5 page): Identification of the field(s) (up to four [4]) for which the institution intends to nominate fellows, a brief rationale for why these fields are a strategic fit, and confirmation that the institution can and will implement a minimum 50% teaching buyout for each fellow.
3. Preliminary Faculty Profiles (0.5–1 page): For each proposed fellow, a short narrative describing the candidate, their research focus and their alignment with SF research priorities.
4. Mentoring and Student Engagement Summary (0.5 page): Identification of the proposed senior faculty mentor(s) and a brief description of how mentoring will be structured, along with a short description of how students will be engaged in the research.
5. Institutional Commitment Statement (0.5 page): A statement from senior institutional leadership affirming the institution’s commitment to the teaching buyout, the mentoring structure, and participation in program-wide reporting and meetings.

Upon review, select applicants will be invited to submit a full application via SAM by December 17, 2026. Full applications must be submitted by 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time on February 9, 2027. When completing the full application, applicants must refer to the “How to Apply” tab and the LOI approval notification they have received for details on the full application requirements and submission instructions. Full applications will be reviewed by Simons Foundation scientific staff and an expert review committee.

1. 1. Intellectual Merit (30%): Proposals will be evaluated on the scientific rigor, originality and significance of the proposed research program. Proposals will be assessed using criteria modeled on NSF’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts framework, to help fellows build competitive grant-writing skills and prepare for future federal submissions. Applicants should clearly articulate the long-term research vision, how the teaching buyout and fellowship support will enable them to build a competitive independent research program and how the work will position them to submit future proposals to NSF, NIH or other major funders. Strong proposals will demonstrate a coherent and feasible multiyear research agenda.
   2. Alignment with SF Research Priorities (30%): Projects that are cutting-edge computational, data-driven and/or theoretical in nature and grounded in basic science or mathematics will be prioritized. Proposals with experimental or observational science projects supplementing the primary computational, data-driven and theoretical programs will be considered for funding in exceptional cases. Reviewers will assess the degree to which the proposed research reflects the frontier of the relevant field.
   3. Qualifications and Demonstrated Work (15%): Nominated fellows will be expected to have at least one (1) peer-reviewed publication in a relevant field, or clear evidence of an active research program. Reviewers will evaluate each fellow’s full trajectory and potential, recognizing that junior faculty at HBCUs may be at an early career stage and so may have had limited prior time for research due to heavy teaching responsibilities. A strong application will include a narrative that contextualizes the candidate’s accomplishments relative to their career stage and institutional context.
   4. Student Engagement Plan (15%): Reviewers will assess the quality and specificity of the plan for engaging undergraduate and graduate students in research. A strong student-engagement plan will:
      • Identify the number and level (undergraduate/graduate) of students to be supported;
      • Describe the specific research roles students will play and the mentoring structures that will support them;
      • Articulate a concrete plan for supporting students’ science identity and sense of belonging, such as participation in cohort-based research experiences, peer mentoring, science communication activities or connection to broader research communities;
      • Describe how students will be made aware of graduate school pathways, funding opportunities and career options in science;
      • Include a plan for tracking student outcomes (e.g., graduate school enrollment, conference presentations, co-authored publications).
   5. Mentoring Plan for Junior Faculty Fellows (10%): Because mentoring is central to this program’s model, proposals must include a substantive mentoring plan for each fellow. A strong mentoring plan will:
      • Identify the senior faculty mentor by name and describe their qualifications and availability;
      • Articulate specific mentoring activities (e.g., regular one-on-one meetings, co-authorship, joint grant applications, observation of teaching);
      • Describe how the mentor will support the fellow’s progression toward tenure and external funding, with particular attention to how the protected research time created by the teaching buyout will be structured and monitored;
      • Address how the mentoring relationship will be evaluated and adjusted over time;
      • Confirm the mentor’s availability to participate in monthly program meetings and the annual convening at the Simons Foundation.

Note: Alignment with SF STEM Pathways Strategic Goals will be evaluated holistically across all five (5) criteria rather than as a stand-alone score. SF’s long-term goal is to triple the number of underrepresented students who earn Ph.D.s in mathematics and basic sciences within 10 years. Reviewers will consider how each proposal advances this mission through its research vision, student engagement approach and hub strategy.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, the Simons Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation” or “SF”) reserves the right to refer an application to the Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (“SFI”) for consideration and funding. SFI and SF have entered into an agreement pursuant to which SF provides program operations and grant administration services, including payment processing, to SFI. SFI grant recipients are subject to SF Policies and Procedures.

Additional award terms may be included in the official award notification. Grantees are subject to the conditions outlined in their official award notification.

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and to expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.

The Simons Foundation provides 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.