SCPAB Transition to Independence Award

Closed
Important Dates
  • SAM Opens for Applications:
  • Informational Zoom Session:
  • First-Stage Application and Letters Due:
  • Finalists Invited for Interviews: Late May 2023
  • Virtual Interviews:
  • Awardees Notified: June 2023
  • Award Letters Provided to Fellows: July 2023
Important Dates
  • SAM Opens for Applications:
  • Informational Zoom Session:
  • First-Stage Application and Letters Due:
  • Finalists Invited for Interviews: Late May 2023
  • Virtual Interviews:
  • Awardees Notified: June 2023
  • Award Letters Provided to Fellows: July 2023
Contact Info

Opportunity

The Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB) Transition to Independence (TTI) Award aims to facilitate the transition of the next generation of outstanding scientists from historically underrepresented groups to research independence in the field of cognitive aging. Through this effort, we seek to support the transition of scientists doing work consistent with SCPAB’s scientific mission. SCPAB launched this program in 2022 with the recognition that diversity improves scientific innovation and collaboration. The program application is open to individuals who are from racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in cognitive aging, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.This includes, but is not limited to, any individual identifying as Hispanic or Latine, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native. A previous background in aging research is not required; candidates with a background in fields including neuroscience, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, cell biology and the physical and information sciences are encouraged to apply.

Timeline and Funding

SCPAB’s TTI Award program supports talented early-career scientists by facilitating their transition to research independence in the field of cognitive aging by providing up to two (2) years of postdoctoral support as well as three (3) years of grant funding at the start of their professorships. This request for applications (RFA) is aimed at Ph.D. and M.D.-holding scientists who are currently in training positions but intend to seek tenure-track research faculty positions during the upcoming academic job cycle. The program’s selection process is designed to enhance the TTI fellows’ job prospects by providing a letter that specifies SCPAB’s financial commitment to the research project once the TTI fellow has secured a suitable faculty position. Importantly, this fellowship also includes up to two years of postdoctoral fellowship support in order to facilitate professional development and offer support during the job search process. Fellows will receive up to two (2) years of postdoctoral support with an annual salary of $70,000, fringe benefits, an annual resource and professional development allowance of $10,000, and indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies), followed by a commitment of $600,000 over three (3) years, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies), activated upon assumption of a tenure-track research professorship.

Application Process

TTI grants are awarded through a multi-stage process. The first stage is a competitive process in which first-stage applications are reviewed by the SCPAB scientific staff and executive committee. TTI fellows are selected at the end of stage one. Upon selection as a TTI fellow, fellows will receive up to two (2) years of postdoctoral support at their postdoc institution with an annual salary of $70,000, as well as a resource and professional development allowance of $10,000 per year. The award will also provide fringe benefits and indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies). During this time, postdocs will receive mentorship and professional development resources to assist in their search for a faculty position.

Fellows have 24 months to secure a tenure-track professorship at an academic institution and submit a second-stage approval application. Review of the approval application is a non-competitive, internal process intended to confirm that the fellow has secured an academic research position and adequate institutional resources to support their research program. .After the Simons Foundation accepts the second-stage approval application, the awardee will receive research support at the level of $600,000 over three (3) years, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies). The award is administered through the institution at which the TTI fellow has secured a tenure-track faculty appointment. Funds are intended as a supplement to a standard start-up package. Funds may not be used toward the faculty salary but may provide salary support for other laboratory personnel and other typical grant budget expenditures. Institutional start-up packages may not be reduced because of TTI funding. SCPAB will work with fellows and their potential faculty institutions to ensure that fellows receive start-up packages with sufficient institutional resources and academic privileges to complete the TTI project.

Awards will be governed by the Simons Foundation policies, which can be found at http://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/policies-and-forms/.

Eligibility

  • The program application is open to individuals who are from racial, ethnic and other groups underrepresented in cognitive aging, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, any individual identifying as Hispanic or Latine, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or American Indian or Alaska Native. We will consider applicants to have come from a disadvantaged background if they meet at least two (2) of the following criteria:
    • Were or currently are homeless;
    • Were or currently are in the foster care system;
    • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program* for two or more years;
    • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree;
    • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell* grants;
    • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children* as a parent or child;
    • Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or b) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zip codes are included in the file). Only one of the two (2) possibilities in this bullet can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged backgrounds.
    • * For non-U.S. applicants, please consider approximately equivalent programs.
  • Applicants must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree.
  • Applicants must be currently in non-independent, mentored training positions, as recognized by their institution. See FAQ for guidelines.
  • Applicants must be actively seeking a tenure-track position at an institution of higher education during the next job cycle.
  • Applicants are not eligible if they are recipients of other career development awards with similar budgetary scopes as the SCPAB Transition to Independence Award. See FAQ for more information.
  • Applicants must not have accepted a formal offer for a tenure-track faculty position.
  • There are no citizenship requirements.

Additionally, please note that beginning with the 2024 SCPAB TTI RFA, applicants will be limited to one application resubmission (a total of two (2) submissions to the SCPAB TTI RFA).

You are strongly encouraged to contact SCPAB before applying if you are unsure of whether you meet the eligibility criteria above.

Informational Sessions for Potential Applicants

The Simons Foundation held an informational webinar for the Transition to Independence RFA featuring SCPAB scientific staff and a current SCPAB TTI fellow on December 8, 2022. We encourage prospective applicants to view the recording here.

The Simons Foundation held an informational session on how to submit an application through our grants management system, Simons Award Manager (SAM), on Thursday, January 12 – Click here to watch the recording.

Additionally, informational videos on submitting applications in SAM can be found here.

Instructions for Submission

The deadline for first-stage application submission is 12:00 p.m. EST on February 16, 2023.

Applications must be completed electronically and submitted via SAM. Please click on the Funding Opportunities icon and navigate to the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain – Transition to Independence Postdoctoral Award call. Click the Create Application button to begin. Applications should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own account in SAM. Please refer to the How to Apply instructions for further details.

All first-stage applications must include the following:

  • Proposal Narrative: A research statement, not to exceed four (4) pages (not including references). Detailed description of scientific interests and goals describing your future research program as an independent investigator and how the SCPAB mission fits in with your intended research program. This should be your overall plan for your lab, not a specific three (3) year project proposal. Please include:
    • Relevant scientific background
    • Significance and relevance to SCPAB mission
  • Signed self-attestation of eligibility (available on SAM). The program application is open to individuals who are from racial, ethnic and other groups underrepresented in cognitive aging, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, any individual identifying as Hispanic or Latine, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or American Indian or Alaska Native.
  • Personnel Biosketch, not to exceed five (5) pages, including:
    • Personal statement, not to exceed 500 words;
    • Optional diversity statement, not to exceed 500 words. Explanation of how the candidate’s participation would further the goal to promote diversity in cognitive aging;
    • Contributions to science; and
    • Education, positions, awards and additional publications.
  • Letter from current institution officially confirming you are in a mentored training position (e.g., letter from department chair or grant office).
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three (3) confidential letters of recommendation are required from previous mentors and/or senior scientists who have substantial familiarity with your scientific career thus far. One letter of recommendation must be from a current scientific mentor. Confidential letters must be submitted through SAM.
  • Budget: A detailed budget for up to two (2) years of postdoctoral support, specifically: $70,000 annual salary and fringe, for the fellow (personnel field), $10,000 annual resource and professional development allowance (research support costs field), and indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies).

First-stage applications are reviewed by the SCPAB scientific staff and competitive applications are further reviewed by the SCPAB executive committee. Reviewers will weigh criteria related to the applicant’s scientific potential as an independent investigator and their ability to formulate an impactful, innovative and feasible research project in cognitive aging.

After Selection

SCPAB TTI fellows will be notified of their award in June 2023. Fellows will receive up to two years of postdoctoral support with a $70,000 annual salary, awarded to them at their postdoc institution. In order to receive the postdoctoral support portion of the award, your institution must appoint you as an employee of the university with no teaching obligation, and provide the standard benefits package that the university provides to employees. Upon notification, fellows have up to 24 months to secure a tenure-track faculty position and submit a second-stage approval application. As job negotiations develop during this intervening period, fellows are strongly encouraged to contact SCPAB, who will informally review job offer letters, and as appropriate, work with fellows and their potential faculty institutions to ensure that start-up packages provide sufficient institutional resources and academic privileges to complete the TTI project.

To activate the faculty support portion of the award, fellows must submit a second-stage approval application, which includes the tenure-track faculty appointment offer letter with confirmed research startup package and laboratory space commitments. Other required documents include any applicable updates to the proposal narrative, biosketch, current and pending support, budget, budget justification, research environment and resources, renewable reagents and data-sharing plan, and institutional sign-off.

SCPAB will review these documents internally with the intention of funding all fellows who have secured sufficient institutional resources and academic privileges to complete the TTI project. If these are deemed acceptable, a grant funding letter will be sent.

SCPAB reserves the right to withhold grant support 1) if the fellow is unable to secure a tenure-track position at a suitable academic institution within 24 months of their award notification letter, 2) if an institutional environment is deemed inadequate by SCPAB to support successful completion of the research project, 3) if the revised and updated proposal narrative is not considered adequate, or 4) if the fellow is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the PI for other reasons. Such instances will be handled on a case-by-case basis. It is our intention that withholding grant support from fellows will occur only in rare instances. When appropriate, SCPAB will work with fellows and their prospective institutions in developing mutually agreeable solutions.

Related Programs at SFARI and SCGB

SCPAB’s sister programs, the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) and Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), offer their own Independence Awards. A chart of the differences between the programs can be found here. Candidates may apply to all programs but may only accept one award. Each application will be reviewed individually based on the program’s own selection process and criteria. As such, it is expected that applicants will tailor each research narrative to align with the respective Simons Foundation program to which they are applying.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is 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.

The Simons Foundation provides 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, except when identifying from a disadvantaged background or underrepresented group is an eligibility requirement of the request for application (RFA).

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Important Dates
  • SAM Opens for Applications:
  • Informational Zoom Session:
  • First-Stage Application and Letters Due:
  • Finalists Invited for Interviews: Late May 2023
  • Virtual Interviews:
  • Awardees Notified: June 2023
  • Award Letters Provided to Fellows: July 2023
Contact Info

The deadline for first-stage application submission is 12:00 p.m. EST on February 16, 2023.

Applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please click on the Funding Opportunities icon and navigate to the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain – Transition to Independence Postdoctoral Award call. Click the Create Application button to begin. Applications should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own account in SAM.

Informational Session for Potential Applicants

The Simons Foundation held an informational session on how to submit an application through our new grants management system, Simons Award Manager (SAM), on Thursday, January 12 – Click here to watch the recording.

Additionally, informational videos on submitting applications in SAM can be found here.

First-Stage Application Submission Instructions:
To submit the first stage application, the following sections must be completed in SAM:

  • Proposal Tab
    • Applicant Details & Personal Data: Complete all required fields, including position/title, academic rank, and ORCID iD. The applicant may use the Edit Profile button to update their information as needed.
    • Degrees: Click the Add/Modify Degree(s) button to provide this information.
    • Application Details: Complete all required fields, including title, start date, end date, etc.
    • Proposal: The following information must be entered/uploaded:
      • Mentor Name: Enter the name of your current scientific mentor(s).
      • Proposal Narrative: Upload via template provided in SAM. A research statement, not to exceed four (4) pages (not including references). Detailed description of scientific interests and goals describing your future research program as an independent investigator and how the SCPAB mission fits in with your intended research program. This should be your overall plan for your lab, not a specific three (3) year project proposal. Please include:
        • Relevant scientific background
        • Significance and relevance to SCPAB mission
      • Signed self-attestation of eligibility: Upload via template provided in SAM. The program application is open to individuals who are from racial, ethnic and other groups underrepresented in cognitive aging, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, any individual identifying as Hispanic or Latine, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander or American Indian or Alaska Native.
      • Confirmation Letter for Mentored Training Position: Upload a letter from your current institution officially confirming you are in a mentored training position (e.g., letter from department chair or grant office).
      • Personnel Biosketch: Upload via template provided in SAM and/or an NIH or NSF-style format. The biosketch should not exceed 5 pages, including:
        • Personal statement, not to exceed 500 words;
        • Optional diversity statement, not to exceed 500 words; Explanation of how the candidate’s participation would further the goal to promote diversity in cognitive aging;
        • Contributions to science; and
        • Education, positions, awards and additional publications.
  • Contacts & Personnel Tab:
    • Institution Administrative Contacts: You must add at least one (1) institution signing official and financial officer to the Institution Administrative Contacts section before you will be able to submit your application.
    • Project Personnel: Please indicate all key personnel on the proposed project. Project personnel who will be named in the budget must be added to the Project Personnel section on this tab before they will display as available options in the budget module. This does not apply to ‘to be determined’ (TBD) personnel.
  • Budget Tab: .Click the Edit/Modify button to add a detailed budget for up to two (2) years of postdoctoral support, specifically: $70,000 annual salary, and fringe, for the fellow (personnel field), $10,000 annual resource and professional development allowance (research support costs field), and indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies).
  • Letter of Reference Tab:
    • Three (3) confidential letters of recommendation are required from previous mentors and/or senior scientists who have substantial familiarity with your scientific career thus far. At least one (1) letter of recommendation must be from a current scientific mentor. Confidential letters must be submitted through SAM.
    • Instructions on how to invite referees are provided in this tab within SAM. Please note that you must enter a date by which the invited referee should submit their Letter of Reference and click Save Draft prior to sending the invitation. This will ensure that the email invitation sent to the referee includes the due date you set. A video on the Letter of Reference process can be found here.
    • You will not be able to submit your application until all three (3) letters of reference are submitted by the referees.
  • Publications & Other Support Tab: Indicate in this section if you have publications or other support to include in your application. Instructions on how to provide publication and other support information are provided in this tab within SAM.
  • Check Application Progress: Click the Check Application Progress button to check for any missing required information or files. All missing required information will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted.
  • Send for Sign-off: When the application is complete, click on the Send for Sign-off button to send to your signing official for signature. You will receive a notification when the application is signed.>
  • Submit Application: When the full proposal application is complete and signed, please click on the Submit Application button. A confirmation page will appear once the application is successfully submitted. It will appear in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table. Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed.
Important Dates
  • SAM Opens for Applications:
  • Informational Zoom Session:
  • First-Stage Application and Letters Due:
  • Finalists Invited for Interviews: Late May 2023
  • Virtual Interviews:
  • Awardees Notified: June 2023
  • Award Letters Provided to Fellows: July 2023
Contact Info
  1. How is the SCPAB Transition to Independence (TTI) Award different from the SFARI BTI and the SCGB TTI?plus--large
  2. Can I apply for the SFARI, SCGB and SCPAB Independence Awards at the same time?plus--large

    Yes. Candidates may apply to all programs but may only accept one award. Each application will be reviewed individually based on the program’s own selection process and criteria. As such, it is expected that applicants will tailor each research narrative to align with the respective Simons Foundation program to which they are applying.

  3. Who is eligible to apply for the SCPAB TTI Award?plus--large

    The program application is open to individuals who are from racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in cognitive aging, including individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. This includes, but is not limited to, any individual identifying as Hispanic or Latine, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

  4. How do you define ‘disadvantaged backgrounds’?plus--large

    We will consider applicants to have come from a disadvantaged background if they meet at least two (2) of the following criteria:

    • Were or currently are homeless;
    • Were or currently are in the foster care system;
    • Were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program* for two (2) or more years;
    • Have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree;
    • Were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell* grants;
    • Received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children* as a parent or child;
    • Grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or b) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zip codes are included in the file). Only one of the two (2) possibilities in this bullet can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged backgrounds.
    • * For non-U.S. applicants, please consider approximately equivalent programs.
  5. I do not have a Ph.D. or M.D. yet, but I am currently pursuing one (e.g., I’m a current graduate or medical student). Am I eligible?plus--large

    No. Applicants must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree. Please note that the foundation does not consider a Doctor of Psychology degree (e.g., Psy.D.) as equivalent to a Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D).

  6. I already have a postdoctoral fellowship, am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    Yes. Please contact us to discuss options for the postdoc fellowship support portion of this award.

  7. Are newly appointed tenure-track faculty eligible?plus--large

    No.

  8. I have accepted a tenure-track faculty position but have not yet started. Am I still eligible?plus--large

    No.

  9. I hold a non-tenured faculty position (e.g., assistant or adjunct professor) at my institution. Am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    No. However, exceptions are made for clinical faculty members who do not hold an independent research faculty position.

  10. I have a Ph.D. (or equivalent research doctorate degree) but do not have the title of “postdoctoral fellow.” Am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    You are eligible only if your institutional title is the equivalent of “postdoctoral fellow.” In other words, if you are considered to be in a non-independent training position with a designated mentor. Confirmation of your training status (e.g., letter from the department chair) is required for the application.

  11. What is the difference between a non-independent position and an independent position?plus--large

    The following guidelines should be used to distinguish independent from non-independent positions (modified from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) K99/R00 program announcement eligibility section):

    • Evidence for non-independence may include:
      • The applicant’s research is entirely funded by another investigator’s grants.
      • The applicant’s research is conducted entirely in another investigator’s assigned space.
      • According to institutional policy, the applicant is not allowed to submit an application for an NIH research grant (e.g., R01) or SCPAB grant as the principal investigator (PI).
    • Conversely, evidence for independence, and therefore lack of eligibility for this application, may include:
      • The applicant has a full-time faculty position.
      • The applicant received a start-up package for support of their independent research.
      • The applicant has research space dedicated to their own research.
      • The applicant is eligible to apply for independent research funding as the PI of an NIH research grant (e.g., R01) or SCPAB grant.
  12. I am a clinician (M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M. or other licensed professional) but do not have a postdoctoral fellow position. Am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    A clinician who holds a faculty position in order to fulfill their clinical responsibilities may be eligible if and only if they do not hold an independent research faculty position. The foundation may require written confirmation of the distinction between the applicant’s clinical and research responsibilities. Please contact neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org to confirm eligibility status prior to application submission.

  13. My current traineeship is at a non-U.S. academic institution; am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    Yes.

  14. Does my faculty position need to be at a U.S. institution?plus--large

    No.

  15. I am not a U.S. citizen. Am I eligible to apply?plus--large

    Yes. U.S. citizenship is not required.

  16. Are there any eligibility restrictions on duration of postdoctoral training or how long ago I earned my Ph.D. or M.D.?plus--large

    No. SCPAB does not restrict eligibility based on duration of postdoctoral training or how long ago the Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree was earned.

  17. Is postdoctoral training a requirement to apply for the TTI Award?plus--large

    No. However, a postdoctoral fellowship is often considered essential training in preparation for an independent research career. Nevertheless, SCPAB acknowledges that some individuals may already be well placed to begin their professorships without having completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Our review criteria are focused on whether an applicant is currently poised to begin their independent careers, as evidenced by their scientific contributions and vision, and not based on whether the applicant has conducted postdoctoral training, per se.

  18. I am the recipient of a career development award with a similar budgetary scope to the SCPAB TTI Award. Am I eligible?plus--large

    No. These awards include, but are not limited to:

    • NIH K99/R00 (please note that other K awardees may be eligible, e.g., recipients of K01 and K08)
    • Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award
    • American Academy of Neurology Career Development Award
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Hanna H. Gray fellowship
    • SCGB Transition to Independence (TTI) Award
    • SFARI Bridge to Independence (BTI) Award

    You are strongly encouraged to contact SCPAB before applying if you believe your career development award is comparable to the TTI Award but is not listed abo

  19. I applied for the SCPAB TTI Award in a previous year and was not selected. Am I still eligible to apply?plus--large

    Yes. However, beginning with the 2024 SCPAB TTI RFA, all applicants will be limited to one application resubmission (a total of two (2) submissions to the SCPAB TTI RFA).

  20. Can I email or mail an application?plus--large

    No. The Simons Foundation only accepts applications submitted online through SAM.

  21. Do I need approval from the grants office at my institution to submit my first-stage application?plus--large

    Yes. Institutional sign-off is required in the first stage in order to receive the postdoctoral award. An additional institutional sign-off from your faculty institution will also be required at the second stage approval application if you are selected for an award.

  22. May SCPAB funds go toward providing clinical services or conducting a clinical trial?plus--large

    No. Proposals for clinical “efficacy” trials are not allowed. Funds may only be used toward a research project.

  23. I get an error message citing a missing section when I try to submit.plus--large

    The Check Application Progress button reviews your proposal for missing sections. The submission instructions list the required sections and attachments. You must complete the missing items listed in the error message. If you are still receiving error messages after completing and saving the indicated sections, please contact samsupport@simonsfoundation.org.

  24. How do I submit?plus--large

    When the full proposal application is complete, please click on the Submit Application button. A confirmation page will appear once the application is successfully submitted. It will appear in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table. Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed.

  25. Can I make changes to the application once it has been submitted?plus--large

    You must contact the Simons Foundation prior to the February 16, 2023 deadline to un-submit your application. Please email neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org if you would like to un-submit your proposal for any modifications.

  26. Will I receive a confirmation email when I submit?plus--large

    A confirmation email is sent upon submission. Make sure that spam filters allow emails from no-reply@simonsfoundation.org. Additionally, the proposal will be in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table after submission.

  27. When will applicants be notified of their TTI fellow status?plus--large

    Applicants will be notified of their status in June 2023.

  28. How does the Postdoctoral Award work?plus--large

    As an SCPAB TTI fellow, postdocs will be employees of their institutions and will receive an annual salary at their postdoctoral institution of $70,000 for up to two (2) years. Fringe will be added to this award; the fringe rate varies based on the institutional fringe rate and will not be adjusted mid-award. In addition to the annual salary, postdocs will receive a resource and professional development allowance of $10,000 per year for up to two (2) years. The resource and professional development allowance will be awarded through the current (postdoctoral) institution for fellow’s exclusive and flexible use for a variety of purposes, including, but not limited to laptop and software purchases, conference-related expenses, workshops and other professional development costs. The award will also include indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies).

  29. Will I be eligible for health insurance and other benefits during the Postdoctoral Award stage?plus--large

    In order to receive the postdoctoral support portion of the award, your institution must appoint you as an employee of the university with no teaching obligation, and provide the standard benefits package (e.g., health insurance, retirement plan, etc.) that the university provides to employees.

  30. What if I get a faculty position in under two (2) years? What will happen to the postdoc support funds?plus--large

    If a postdoc starts their faculty position in less than two (2) years, any unexpended balance must be returned to Simons Foundation.

  31. What is the funding period? When will funding begin?plus--large

    Once the approval application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation will coordinate with the fellow about the timing of the award letter and start date. The newly-appointed principal investigator (PI) will receive research support at the level of $600,000 over three (3) years, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation policies). The award is administered through the institution at which the PI has a tenure-track faculty appointment.

  32. May I accept a position in the department where I conducted my mentored research?plus--large

    Fellows are encouraged (but not required) to apply for independent positions in different departments and institutions from where they conducted their mentored research. It is important for all fellows, but especially fellows who intend to stay at their mentoring institution for their independent role, to submit a plan by which they will advance to independence.

  33. I am a TTI fellow and have received a tenure-track faculty offer letter. What do I do now?plus--large

    Contact SCPAB scientific staff, who may informally review your offer letter to flag any potential issues with activating the faculty award and to ensure that fellows receive a start-up package with sufficient institutional resources and academic privileges. Once you are ready to activate your TTI faculty grant you must submit your second-stage approval application within 2-3 months. To do this, you must submit the following documents through your appointment institution via SAM:

    • Copy of tenure-track faculty appointment letter with confirmed research start-up package and laboratory space commitments
    • Updated research proposal
    • Updated biosketch for the PI
    • Current and pending support for the PI
    • Budget
    • Budget justification
    • Research environment and resources – investigators should demonstrate access to appropriate facilities and resources for successful completion of the proposed research grant
    • Data-sharing plan
    • Institutional Sign-off
Other Funding Opportunities
Program Name
Important Dates
Description

SCPAB Research Awards – 2020 Extension RFA

This RFA is by invitation only. We are soliciting progress reports and proposals for two years of further funding to expand and develop previously funded SCPAB Awards. These proposals should build on ideas generated in the first three years of SCPAB award funding.
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