Deadline for Full Application Submission: 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time on February 25, 2027.

Applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please click on the “Funding Opportunities” icon and navigate to the Simons Dissertation Fellowship. Click the “Create Application” button to begin. Applications should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own SAM account.

To submit an application, the following sections must be completed in SAM:

Record Summary

The applicant’s name and institution will appear in this section. The institution will default to the user’s primary affiliation in their SAM profile. Please ensure that the listed institution is the one to which funds must be administered if selected for funding. If the institution or applicant must be changed, please refer to the SAM Frequently Asked Questions for assistance.

Proposal Tab

• Applicant Details: Enter all required fields, including your ORCID iD. The applicant may edit information via the “Edit Profile” button as needed. To add your ORCID iD, navigate to the ORCID tab of the user profile, and select the “Create or Connect Your ORCID iD” button to link to your ORCID profile. Applicants must complete their profiles by clicking the “Complete Profile” button on the user profile in order to submit.
• Degree(s): Click the “Add/Modify Degree(s)” button to provide this information. (optional).
  • Indicate whether the mathematics department at the grantee’s institution has a Ph.D. granting program. See the eligibility section of the RFA for further information.
• Application Details:
  • Enter a title. This should reflect the nature of the applicant’s research and plans during the fellowship.
  • Start and end dates are fixed. The grant will commence September 1, 2027, and end August 31, 2029.
• Proposal:
  • Statement of Research Plans:
    • Upload a PDF summarizing the applicant’s research contributions, research plans for the immediate future and career goals. Maximum of two (2) pages, plus up to one (1) additional page for references and figures, which can be embedded within the text.
  • Personnel Biosketches: Upload a PDF of the applicant’s biosketch. Biosketches must be in SciENcv-, NIH- or NSF-style format, or use the template available for download in SAM.
  • Indicate the extent to which, if any, generative AI technology was used and how it was used to develop your proposal.
  • Indicate if the PI or any project personnel listed on this application are affiliated with the Simons Foundation or the Flatiron Institute as visiting scholars, independent contractors or employees.

Contacts & Personnel Tab

• Institution Administrative Contacts: At least one Signing Official and one Financial Officer must be added to this section.

Letter of Reference Tab

• Applicants must invite their Thesis Advisor to upload a confidential letter of reference within SAM. Letters must be signed by the letter writer, and should summarize the applicant’s scientific accomplishments and potential in the field of mathematics.
• Instructions for inviting referees are provided within this tab of the application in SAM. Once formally invited, referees will receive an automated email from [email protected] requesting that they accept or decline the invitation. Referees must accept the invitation before they can submit their letter. All letters must be uploaded as a PDF and submitted by the referee prior to the application deadline.
  • A video demonstrating how to invite references to an application can be found in our SAM FAQs.
  • You must first enter a Response Date and select Save Draft. When an email invitation is sent to your Thesis Advisor, this will be the reference due date. It must be before the application deadline.
• You will not be able to send the application for sign-off or submit your application until the required letter of recommendation has been submitted. Please plan accordingly to allow your Thesis Advisor enough time to access their account and upload their letter to the application in SAM in advance of the application deadline.
• Select “Thesis Advisor” as the reference type.
• Note: References will not have access to view other sections of your application. They will only have access if added to the application in another role, or if they’re an approved institution official.

Abstract & Keywords Tab

• Keywords: Click on the “Add/Modify Keywords” button to select up to two tags that apply to the applicant’s research. Your choices will be used to select the most suitable reviewers.

Check Application Progress

Click the “Check Application Progress” button to verify that all required information and files have been submitted. Any missing requirements will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted.

Institutional Sign-off and Application Submission

When the application is complete, please click the “Send for Sign-off” button to send the application to your Signing Official for signature. You will not be able to send the application for sign-off if any application requirements are missing. The Signing Official will receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that an application requires their signature. The Signing Official must electronically sign the application via the “Submission” tab of the application. Once their signature is entered and saved, the Signing Official must click the “Submit Signature” button. This will officially submit the application to the foundation. Upon submitting their signature, the Signing Official will see a confirmation page, and the application will now appear in the “Submitted” tab of the “Applications and Awards” table. The applicant, Signing Official and Financial Officer will receive an email from [email protected] when the application is signed and submitted. Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed.

Post-Submission Communication

Once your application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation staff will be in touch if we require any additional information or revisions to your application.

The Simons Foundation and The 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.