Scientific Software Research Faculty Award – Request for Applications 2026: FAQs

All Funding 

Scientific Software Research Faculty Award – Request for Applications 2026

Under Review
Coming Up
Full Proposal Deadline: — No later than three months prior to the award start date
Program Area
Mathematics & Physical Sciences
Award Program
Scientific Software Research Faculty Award
Type
Investigator Award
Career Stage
Faculty Level (Established Researcher), Junior Faculty Level (Early Career)
All Funding 

  1. LOI Deadline

    January 21, 2026, 12 p.m. ET

  2. LOI Notification

    March 31, 2026

  3. Full Proposal Deadline:

    No later than three months prior to the award start date

  4. Award Start Date:

    By September 1, 2027

Contacts

Program or Administrative Questions
[email protected]

Technical Questions
[email protected]

Office Hours

Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, except designated holidays.

Office Closures

November 26–28, 2025, December 24, 2025–January 2, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How should the award be used?

The award should be used primarily for work that is related to scientific software or that supports a research program or group working on scientific software development and maintenance. For example, theoretical work on methods or algorithms relevant to scientific software infrastructure would be in scope, but the funding should not be used to support other, unrelated work.

Are people in existing research faculty positions eligible to apply?

The aim of this program is to stimulate the development and maintenance of core scientific software infrastructure in academic environments through the creation of a new, long-term, faculty-level career path in response to this call. A person in an existing research faculty position or who will be promoted into one before the due date and time of the Letter of Intent (LOI) is not eligible to apply. The award only supports those who will be hired into new research positions. A person in an existing faculty position would be eligible only if they were to fill a newly created position in response to this call.

Is computational physical chemistry an eligible field?

Yes, computational physical chemistry is eligible.

Is experimental physics an eligible field?

No, currently, the program is only open to theoretical physics.

Is quantitative biology an eligible field?

Proposals in computational quantitative biology aspiring to create high-impact software based on mathematically sound and adequately complex models of biological systems may be considered.

What career level should the candidate be?

There is not a career level requirement; the candidate must be able to meet the requirements outlined in the eligibility section of the RFA. Postdocs are eligible candidates.

My Ph.D. is not in mathematics, astronomy or theoretical physics, but I have played a leading role in developing or maintaining scientific software in one or more of these fields. Am I eligible to apply?

Applicants with Ph.D.’s in other but related fields of science — such as in computational atmospheric and ocean science, biophysics, chemical physics, geoscience — may also be considered as long as their proposed computational research is at the level of mathematical sophistication comparable to the standards in mathematics and theoretical physics, and addresses basic science problems in the above fields.

Are there any requirements for minimum teaching load?

There is no minimum requirement in place. However, the intent is for these positions to be seen as an asset to the universities and departments by contributing teaching and computational support.

In practice, how is the policy that the new position must not be term limited enforced? Is it enough for the host institution to support the role as long as supplemental funding through grants can provide the remaining 50% salary?

The main consideration is that the proposed funding of the position in a given university should not be coming from some other grant or grants but should be university funding.

Is there a limit to the number of applicants per university?

No, there is no limit.

How are grant funds awarded?

The grant is awarded to the host institution.

Simons Foundation & Simons Foundation International

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.

More Funding Opportunities

Open

Scientific Software Research Faculty Award – Request for Applications 2027–2028

Funding Opportunity

The MPS division invites applications for the Scientific Software Research Faculty Award, which supports new research professor positions in existing academic departments to be filled by scientific software-focused researchers no later than September 1, 2027.

Apply by January 21, 2027

Open

Fellows-to-Faculty – 2027 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award program supports talented early career scientists by facilitating their transition into tenure-track faculty positions. The focus of this program is the $600,000 USD three (3) year faculty research grant.

Apply by January 13, 2027

Open

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

Funding Opportunity

Supports junior HBCU faculty with protected research time to advance their work, pursue grants and publications, build collaborations, and create pathways for students into graduate STEM programs.

Apply by November 12, 2026