Rationale

Scientific software is a critical component of research, enabling scientists to analyze and reduce data, perform simulations, automate tasks, and produce and visualize results. As such, the development and maintenance of broadly-applicable scientific software has become an increasingly important intellectual endeavor. While scientific software experts are crucial members of research ventures, their career prospects beyond postdoctoral-level positions are limited. The Simons Foundation invites applications for funding to support new research professor positions (e.g., “clinical professor,” “professor of practice” or “research professor,” the titles and roles depending on the university) in existing academic departments (the “host institutions”) to be filled by scientific software-focused researchers.

Level and Duration of Funding

A Scientific Software Fellowship provides five years of 50 percent salary support of the awardee’s academic-year salary and fringe benefits, whether normally paid over 9 or 12 months, along with a yearly $50,000 research allowance for the awardee, as well as indirect costs for the host institution (limited to 20 percent of the modified total direct costs, see Simons Foundation Policies). The host university is expected to provide the other 50 percent of salary support for teaching work through existing department channels. This funding is potentially renewable.

Allowable Expenses

The $50,000 allowance provided to the awardee may be used at the awardee’s discretion to support expenses in the following categories:

• General research expenses

• Salary support and related benefits, including tuition support, for staff/research scientists and postdoctoral, graduate and/or undergraduate research assistants.

• Scientific domestic or international travel by the awardee and their students

• Small equipment, supplies and other expenses, such as computers, computer support, publication expenses, stationery, books and membership fees.

• Expenses related to travel or hosting scientific visitors and collaborators.

• Workshop development and organization.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in mathematics, astronomy or theoretical physics and have played a leading role in developing or maintaining scientific software in one or more of these fields. Awards may be hosted at any public or private Ph.D.-granting institution in the United States. There are no citizenship or country requirements to apply. Awardees must be hired into clinical professor, professor of practice or equivalent-level positions in a mathematics, astronomy or physics department such that a maximum of 50 percent of their time is dedicated to teaching and/or supporting computational efforts within the department. The position need not be tenure track but must not be term limited. Awardees must be allowed to have principal investigator (PI) status on grants. As part of the program obligations, awardees will be invited and expected to attend an annual meeting held at and paid by the Simons Foundation.

Number of Awards

At full capacity of the program, the foundation expects to support an average of 6 new fellows each year.

Application Process

SSRF awards are granted through a two-stage process. The first stage (“LOI”) is a competitive process in which applications are reviewed by a committee of scientific domain and software experts. SSRF awardees are selected based on this first stage application. Upon selection, the host institution must hire the awardee within 12 months into a research professor or equivalent position (described above) and allowed to have PI status on grants. The second stage will commence when the awardee is hired and able to receive grant funding at the host institution. The second stage (“Full Proposal”) is non-competitive: the awardee and host institution must affirm that the position meets the eligibility criteria outlined above. The host institution must submit a complete budget, including applicable salary and fringe benefit funds, and the awardee must submit a budget justification.

For More funding Opportunities, Visit Global Funding Opportunities.