Collaboration Grants for Mathematicians

The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences division invites applications for Collaboration Grants for Mathematicians to stimulate collaboration in the field primarily through the funding of travel and related expenditures.

Rationale: The goal of the program is to support the ‘mathematical marketplace’ by substantially increasing collaborative contacts between mathematicians. The foundation will make a large number of collaboration grants to accomplished, active researchers in the United States who do not otherwise have access to funding that supports travel and visitors.

Basis for Awards: Awards will be based on the quality of the applicant’s previous research, as outlined in the “Statement of Recent Work” application requirement below, and on the likely impact that the collaboration grant will have on future research, both for the applicant and the applicant’s graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows.

Level and Duration of Funding: Each collaboration grant provides $7,000 per year for five years:$5,000 per year for collaboration, travel, and research expenses for the awardee; $1,000 per year in discretionary funds for the awardee’s department; and$1,000 per year in indirect costs to the awardee’s institution. The five-year grant will commence September 1, 2016, and end August 31, 2021.

Allowable Expenses:

1. An amount of $5,000 per year to the awardee. Eligible expenses in this category are: 1. Scientific travel by the awardee, the awardee’s graduate students, and other members of the awardee’s department (at the sole discretion of the awardee) per the institution’s travel policies. International travel is permitted. 2. The expense of scientific visits to the awardee’s home institution by the awardee’s collaborators and other scientific visitors of interest to the awardee per the institution’s travel policies. International travel is permitted. 3. Up to$1,000 per year in other research expenses, such as computers, computer support, publication expenses, stationery, supplies, and books.
2. An amount of $1,000 per year to the awardee’s department to enhance the research atmosphere of the department. Eligible expenses in this category include support for departmental colloquia and seminars, as well as refreshments and other research related amenities. Support for student orientations, prospective student visits, and other departmental activities are allowed. Funds may also be used to subsidize meals for faculty, students, and visitors. In addition, these funds may be used to help pay for furniture and research infrastructure, such as copiers, computer servers, and computer support. Funds should be expended at the discretion of the department chair. 3. An amount of$1,000 per year in indirect costs to the institution for the administration of the award.

These grants may not be used for salary or teaching buyouts, whether for the awardee or others. Only travel between September 1, 2016, and August 31, 2021, will be covered by this grant; however, expenses incurred before September 1, 2016, for travel during the grant period are permissible.

Unspent Funds: Any funds not spent in one year of the grant may be spent in subsequent years without prior approval, but unspent funds at the end of the grant must be returned to the foundation unless express permission is obtained for a specified future use.

Payment: Payments to institutions will be disbursed annually.

Reporting: An annual progress and financial report is due no later than October 31 of each year. The progress report must include a summary of the activities supported by the grant for the prior year, an assessment by the grantee of the value of his/her collaboration grant in substantially increasing collaborative contacts, a list of all papers submitted or published, and current and pending support. The financial report must include expenditures for travel and collaboration, department discretionary funds, and indirect costs.

Other Support: Collaboration grant awardees may not hold any other external grants of over $3,000 per year that allow for support for travel or visitors during the award period. This includes other applicable Simons Foundation funding. Awardees are obligated to inform the foundation if they receive any such funding during their collaboration grant period. If this occurs, their collaboration grant will be terminated at the end of the current year (August 31). Awardees may retain all funds paid toward the grant to date, but any residual funds must be used to support the collaboration and travel of others. A final report is due by October 31 after the termination date. This report should include an acknowledgment of the additional funding. An awardee may apply to the foundation for another collaboration grant for the period after the completion of the other grant. Termination of Funding: The collaboration grant will be terminated if the awardee receives other sources of funding as described above in “Other Support.” Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, an individual must: • Have a Ph.D. and a tenure-track or tenured position, or be a professor emeritus, at a U.S. institution of higher education. • Have a current record of active research and publication in high-quality journals. • Not hold any other external grants of over$3,000 per year that allow for support for travel or visitors during the collaboration grant award period.

There are no citizenship requirements. Individuals at for-profit organizations may not apply.

Number of awards: The foundation anticipates making up to 140 awards per year.

How to Apply: Applicants may apply through proposalCENTRAL (https://proposalcentral.altum.com/default.asp) beginning September 1, 2015. The deadline to apply is January 28, 2016, at midnight EST.

Please coordinate submission of the proposal with the appropriate officials in accordance with institution policies. Please refer to the Application Instructions for further information on and requirements for submitting an application.

Application Requirements Include:

1. Statement of Recent Work: A statement explaining the applicant’s most significant work completed in the previous five years. While unpublished work may be included in the summary, at least some of the work must already have appeared in or be accepted to high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. (Two-page limit, plus up to one page for references.)
2. Statement of Travel/Invitation Goals: A statement explaining travel/invitation goals for the first year of the collaboration grant (one-page limit).
3. A curriculum vitae that includes Ph.D. year, institution and advisor, positions held, and accolades (two-page limit, applicant only).
4. A list of up to five publications from the previous five years and a list of up to five additional publications.
5. A list of colloquia, research seminars, and talks at research conferences that the applicant has given within the past five years (one-page limit).
6. A list of current or recent (past five years) postdocs and Ph.D. students supervised, including their dissertation topics and likely date of completion.
7. A list of current or recent postdoctoral fellows supervised.
8. A list of current and pending support, which includes all financial resources, whether federal, non-federal, commercial, or institutional, available in direct support of the applicant’s research endeavors, including but not limited to research grants, cooperative agreements, and/or contracts.

Funding decisions will be announced by June 1, 2016, and funding will begin on September 1, 2016.

Important Dates: