Simons Foundation Neuroscience Collaborations Courses and Conferences Awards

Opportunity

The Neuroscience Collaborations at the Simons Foundation are accepting applications for funding of courses or conferences in fundamental neuroscience. Courses and conferences that align with the scientific missions of our programs, the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), with a focus on the fields of systems and computational neuroscience, and/or the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB), with a focus on healthy cognitive aging, will be prioritized. We especially encourage applications for courses and conferences held and/or organized by people in regions of the world where opportunities for neuroscience courses or conferences have historically been less numerous.

Eligibility

Applications may be submitted by course or conference organizers within and outside of the United States nonprofit organizations; public and private institutions, such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories and units of state and local government; and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship or country requirements.

To be eligible for funding through the 2024 RFA for the Courses and Conferences Award, the first instance of the course or conference must occur between September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

Funding and Timeline

Funding will be provided in the form of a gift for up to three years. Funding requests may not overlap across years for the same course or conference either through this RFA or a previous RFA for courses and conferences through the SCGB. For each year of support, funding will be provided in levels as outlined below and will be determined by request and justification. Please note that we do not typically fund any course or conference in its entirety and all applicants are strongly encouraged to seek multiple sources of funding support. The Simons Foundation Neuroscience Collaborations intends to run a yearly Courses and Conferences Award RFA moving forward.

Funding levels per year, quoted in U.S. Dollars (USD), are:

• $5,000
• $10,000
• $25,000
• $50,000*

*For requests of $50,000, applicants must contact [email protected] by May 9, 2024 before submitting their application to obtain prior written approval from the Simons Foundation Neuroscience Collaborations.

Your institution will be contacted by Simons Foundation staff for a summary of the events after their completion.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI’s grant policies would apply.

Instructions for Submission

Prospective applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by May 23, 2024, 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. LOIs must be completed electronically and submitted through the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please refer to the How to Apply instructions and FAQ for further details.

The following information constitutes the LOI and must be submitted:

• Proposal Narrative (1-2 pages). Please upload a PDF outlining the objective and structure of the course or conference. The narrative should include (but is not limited to) the following: the objective and structure of the course or conference, its planned frequency, a description of how the course or conference aligns with the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB) and/or Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB) scientific mission, course/conference director(s) or organizing committee, course/conference title, start and end dates for each instance of the course or conference for which funds are requested, location and website. If applicable, please provide information on why the location of this course or conference will provide access to populations and/or geographies where courses and conferences in neuroscience have been less numerous. Any available information on demographics or details (i.e., countries of origin, educational background, race, ethnicity, gender, career stage, etc.) of organizers, attendees, students, teaching assistants and/or faculty are encouraged.
• Budget. Applicants will be asked to provide 1) a budget for the funds requested from the Simons Foundation Neuroscience Collaborations; and 2) an overall budget for the course, including other sources of funding, both pending and confirmed. Please clearly specify the requested funding level for which you are providing the budget. A separate budget should be provided for each year of funding requested, up to three (3) years, as per the instructions in the Timeline and Funding section. Applicants may request different funding levels for each year of requested funding, provided budget justifications are appropriately tailored.
• Code of Conduct. Applicants will be asked to confirm that the course or conference has a code of conduct that will provide an environment for the exchange of scientific ideas and knowledge that conforms to the highest ethical, professional and legal standards.
• Description. Applicants will be asked to provide a description/abstract of the course or conference for the Simons Foundation website.

Finalists selected for an award will be announced by July 11, 2024. All finalist LOIs will be converted to full applications in SAM by Simons Foundation staff. Full applications will require submission of a budget and signature indicating institutional approval by July 25, 2024. Once we have received and approved the full application in SAM, we will issue a formal award letter.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to grantmaking that inspires and supports greater diversity and inclusiveness by cultivating a funding environment that ensures representation of all identities and differences and equitable access to information and resources for all applicants and grantees.

We provide 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. We also fund programs directed at supporting scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, often working closely with professional societies and other funding agencies.