Plant Biology

Advancing fundamental discoveries in plant biology

Close-up of small, pale yellow and white flowers with thin petals and brown-tipped stamens, clustered together against a blurred green background.
PhotoSteve/Alamy

About

Plants comprise over 80 percent of Earth’s biomass and, as such, dominate terrestrial ecosystems. Beyond providing us with food and breathable air, plants have also led to the discovery of cells, chromosomes, Mendelian genetics, transposable elements, RNAi and circadian rhythms. The Simons Foundation seeks to support bold ideas in basic plant biology research as well as recruit new talent to the field.

Programs

Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology

This postdoctoral fellowship program aims to create pathways for scientists to pursue careers in basic research on fundamental questions in plant biology. The program is purposefully flexible to attract diverse expertise. We are interested in both applicants already involved in the plant sciences or trained in disciplines that instill relevant skills, including but not limited to: engineering, computational modeling, theory, chemistry, synthetic biology and physics, as well as applicants already involved in the plant sciences.

Synthetic Plant Biology

The Synthetic Plant Biology program aims to support high-risk and potentially high-impact exploratory research, incorporating engineering principles and techniques, to advance our understanding of how plants function. The goal of the program is to generate fundamental insights in plant biology and the development of innovative tools and techniques that will propel plant biological research in the future.

Funding Opportunities

Open

Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology – 2027 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

These postdoctoral fellowships support candidates who intend to pursue a career in basic research on fundamental problems in plant biology. This program aims to support researchers seeking to understand the inner workings of plants at the level of the whole organism or below.

Apply by December 3, 2026

Under Review

Synthetic Plant Biology – 2027 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

Supports research applying engineering principles to understand plant function, from developing sensors and engineering resilient plants to genetic modifications that reveal trade-offs in growth and development.

Closed

Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology – 2026 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

Supports postdoctoral researchers bringing diverse expertise to fundamental questions in plant biology, fostering interdisciplinary research and new approaches to the plant sciences.

News

Small white four-petaled flowers with yellow centers growing in a cluster on a thin stem.

Applications Open for Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology

A photo of Arabidopsis thaliana, Thale Cress, showing its small white flowers in bloom.

First Simons Postdoctoral Fellows in Plant Biology Announced

Micrograph image of vascular bundles in a sprout of corn.

Funding Available for Synthetic Plant Biology Research

A photo of Arabidopsis thaliana, Thale Cress, showing its small white flowers in bloom.

Applications for Simons Postdoctoral Fellowships in Plant Biology Now Open

Other Research Areas