IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program 2017

Scholarship Details: 

The Simons Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, incorporated in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons. The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. They sponsor a range of programs in the sciences, including grants programs in mathematics and the physical sciences. The primary focus of the foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences division is the theoretical sciences radiating from mathematics: in particular, the fields of mathematics, theoretical computer science and theoretical physics.

More information can be found here: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/.

IMU-Simons African Fellowship Program

The new grant program, the “IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program” will run for 5 years until September 2021.

There will be approx. 6 deadlines per year.

• The program supports research sabbaticals for mathematicians from AFRICAN developing countries employed in AFRICA to travel to an Internationally known mathematical centre of excellence/ university (WORLDWIDE) for collaborative research.
• The program is not for any post graduate courses or post doctoral training but for a LIMITED RESEARCH PERIOD. 
• The grant covers TRAVEL and LIVING COSTS of African mathematicians working in Africa (Specifically coming from a developing country, the definition of which is determined by the IMU for all its schemes) during the sabbatical.

This program is administered by IMU-CDC and funded by the SIMONS Foundation.

Upcoming Deadlines (for completed applications)

• January 15, 2017 (Decisions will be made by February 28, 2017)
• March 15, 2017 (Decisions will be made by April 30, 2017)
• May 15, 2017 (Decisions will be made by June 30, 2017)
• July 1, 2017 (Decisions will be made by August 31, 2017)
• September 1, 2017 (Decisions will be made by October 15, 2017)
• November 1, 2017 (Decisions will be made by December 15, 2017)

 Grant Details

The grant under this scheme will cover:

1. Travel costs from the place of work of the applicant to that of the host to the extent of economy class airfare (Public) transport (surface transport by rail or bus between the nearest city where the airport is located and the headquarters of the candidate or the city/town where the host institution is located, if necessary)
2. Visa fees
3. Travel insurance charges
4. Basic living costs
5. Accommodation cost (guest house of the institution or rented flat if possible).
6. Maximum four (4) Taxi fares (on submission of receipts) may be allowed to travel between the residence and the airport/railway station (upon arrival and departure).

Maximum support per grantee is USD 5,000 (the money is transfered in EURO).

All invoices including all boarding tickets have to be kept by the grantee and be sent (original) to the CDC/ IMU Secretariat by regualar mail. Unspent funds have to be returned to CDC.

Selection Committee

The Grant Selection Committee (GSC) consists of the CDC Secretary for Grants Selection as Chair and has six other members, three from CDC and three others each representing Latin America, Africa and Asia respectively.

The applications are circulated to the GSC through the IMU Secretariat in Berlin, Germany.

Application

In order to apply please take the following steps:

1. Please fill out and submit the online application form for the IMU-Simons Programs.
2. Then send the application with all requested documents (two CVs: of the host and the applicant, detailed Research plan, invitation letter by the host institution, letter by the home institution, budget details (in EURO)) as one joint pdf document to CDC Grants via email <cdc.grants@mathunion.org>.

If your application is NOT completed by the deadline, it CANNOT be considered for evaluation. Please send your application at least two weeks in advance so it can be checked.

Note

1. If you do not receive an automated reply after submitting the application, let us know via cdcgrants(at)mathunion.org

2. If you are applying for the IMU-Simons African Fellowship Program then you CANNOT apply for the Abel Visiting Scholar program simultaneously.

3. If for some reason the visit is postponed/ canceled, you must inform us well in advance.

4. Unspent funds have to be returned to CDC. Good luck!

The application form can be found here: