Simons Dissertation Fellowship in Mathematics – Request for Applications 2027: FAQs

All mathematics departments are eligible, as long as the mathematics department has a Ph.D. degree–granting program. However, a department that is solely statistics would not be eligible.

Yes, there is no limit.

No, the program is designed to begin supporting students in their fourth year of studies. Those going into their fifth year would not be eligible to apply.

The program will only accept applications from students in their third year, to support both the final fourth and fifth years of study.

At this time, the program will not support those in a six-year Ph.D. program.

Applicants must be enrolled at an institution in the United States.

No.

No.

The grant will provide $19,200 USD per year over a two-year period, for a total of $38,400 USD, including indirect costs.

Indirect costs are allowed for this award and must follow our indirect cost policy (see our policies). The indirect cost rate is nonnegotiable.

The Thesis Advisor must upload a confidential letter of reference for the applicant within SAM.

Please consult internally with your institution to determine the appropriate individuals to serve in these roles, as the foundation cannot make this determination on your behalf. If needed, please refer to our policies for descriptions of the responsibilities of the Signing Official and Financial Officer to help identify the appropriate contacts.

For assistance navigating SAM, please refer to the SAM frequently asked questions and instructional videos webpage.

No. Please be advised that all deadlines are in U.S. Eastern time. We recommend registering early and submitting with ample time for corrections prior to the deadline hour. Site traffic can slow page-load times. You will not be able to submit after the deadline has passed.

Only one person can edit a record at a time. A record will be locked for editing if another user already has it opened, and a gray bar will display at the bottom of the record to prevent multiple users from overwriting one another’s changes. Ask other users at your institution to close the application, then refresh your page. If this still does not correct the issue, please reach out to [email protected].

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 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.

All applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please refer to the submission instructions for detailed steps on how to complete and submit your application. You will not be able to submit if the deadline has passed. We will not accept applications or individual application materials submitted via email or mail.

If changes are required to the application after it has been sent for sign-off, the Signing Official must send the application back for revisions. Once revised, the application must be sent for sign-off again and signed by the Signing Official in order to submit by the deadline. You will not be able to submit once the deadline has passed.

If changes are required to the application after submission, you must first contact [email protected]. Applications can only be changed prior to the deadline. Once revised, the application must be sent for sign-off and signed by the Signing Official again in order to resubmit.