Utilizing the Full Power of Empire AI – 2027 Request for Applications

The Simons Foundation (SF) intends to support cutting-edge mathematics and basic science research, drawing on the advanced computational power of the Empire AI.

Toward this goal, SF plans to initiate a new program to fund six to 12 proposals through a competitive open call to the Empire AI research community.

A successful proposal will outline an ambitious two-year research program in one of the following fields, or at their intersections: computational astrophysics and physics, computational biology, mathematics, neuroscience and computational physical chemistry. Each proposal will necessarily rely on the development and utilization of foundational machine learning models, aimed at solving problems of fundamental importance in the above-listed disciplines.

Computational biophysics, neuroscience, ecology and evolution, plant biology, optimal transport, multiscale physics, fluid dynamics and numerical general relativity are representative examples of fields that could use multinode clusters of GPUs of Empire AI, which is a requirement of the program. All submitted proposals should detail how their work will use multinode clusters of GPUs in Empire AI. Proposals focused on data curation and creation of datasets can be considered in exceptional cases, as long as the attained data will be used by the proposers for solving scientific problems as part of the same proposal.

The program’s total budget is expected to be $6 million USD over a two-year period.

A proposal will be led by a Principal Investigator (PI) employed in a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in one of the member institutions of the Empire AI consortium:

• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• City University of New York (CUNY)
• State University of New York (SUNY)
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• New York University
• University of Rochester
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

All applicants and key collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or the equivalent at a college, university, medical school or other research facility.

Applications may be submitted by the institutions listed above. Employees of the Flatiron Institute can participate as unfunded collaborators. Additional PIs on a proposal can be employed by institutions outside the Empire AI consortium through a subcontract. Subcontract institutions may be from U.S. and non-U.S. nonprofit organizations; public and private institutions, such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories, institutes, and units of state and local government; and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship requirements.

Simons Foundation (“the Foundation” or “SF”) employees who receive a W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from the Foundation, including employees of the Flatiron Institute, may not apply as a principal investigator (PI) to any SF Requests for Applications (RFAs) released by the Foundation. PIs and any project personnel listed on the application who will receive funding for salary; travel; support for students, postdocs or research staff; lab equipment; computing time or other individual expenses may not be employees of the Foundation, which includes the Flatiron Institute.

SF and SFI do not provide funding to institutions in China (including institutions in Hong Kong), or to fiscal sponsors or agents of institutions in China or Hong Kong. This includes funding to support subcontracts at institutions in China or Hong Kong or consultants residing or working for institutions in China or Hong Kong.

• Award Amount: There is no maximum budget total for an individual award. The total amount requested should reflect the proposed research. All award amounts are inclusive of indirect costs (see our grant policies). Please note that we anticipate funding six to 12 applications. The total program’s budget of $6 million USD over two years will be spread across all awards.
• Award Duration: June 1, 2027, through May 31, 2029.
• Number of Awards: We expect to select six to 12 applications for funding.

Applicants must submit a full application via Simons Award Manager (SAM) by 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern time on December 1, 2026. Applications will be reviewed by Simons Foundation scientific staff and an expert review committee.

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.

Additional award terms may be included in the official award notification. Grantees are subject to the conditions outlined in their official award notification.

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world. As part of our mission, we support partners, programs and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.

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.