Simons Foundation

SFARI Bridge to Independence Award Program

The SFARI Bridge to Independence (BTI) program engages talented early-career scientists from diverse and/or historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue research in autism and facilitates their transition into independent faculty positions at research institutions within or outside the U.S.

The program is aimed at Ph.D. and/or M.D.-holding scientists from diverse and/or historically underrepresented groups in science who are currently in a non-independent, mentored training position at an institution within or outside the U.S. and who will be actively seeking and applying to tenure-track faculty positions between September 2024–May 2025. Independence Fellows are expected to apply, secure and transition to a tenure-track faculty position at a research institution within or outside the U.S. by the end of the 2025–2026 academic year. U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status is not required. The BTI Award program welcomes applications that span the breadth of science that SFARI supports, including genetics, molecular mechanisms, circuits and systems, and clinical science.

Independence Fellows will receive up to two (2) years of postdoctoral fellowship support during their job search, with an annual salary of $85,000 USD, fringe benefits, an annual resource and professional development allowance of $10,000 USD, and indirect costs (see our grant policies) followed by a commitment of $600,000 USD over three (3) years, including indirect costs (see our grant policies), activated upon assumption of a tenure-track research professorship. The fellows will form a learning community and engage in professional development activities throughout their transition to research independence.
Opportunity ID
12f4129f-0f45-4d2a-8397-d1d75de8f0f3
External Deadline
01/10/2025(Anticipated)

2023 Simons Investigators in Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, and Computer Science

Institutionally Coordinated confidential nomination process. Please contact Marie Teemant, Associate, Research Development Services for more information.

University of Arizona is invited to submit nominations for the Simons Investigators program in the following theoretical categories: Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics and Computer Science. Within the Physics program, the foundation also invites nominations for Theoretical Physics in Life Sciences Investigators. The foundation strongly encourages the nomination of scientists from underrepresented groups.

The aim of the Simons Investigators program is to identify and support the most active and creative theoretical researchers during the years when they are developing into and serving as the intellectual leaders of the field and to provide them with resources to undertake new and creative investigations. The nominees are judged on their potential for innovative contributions to science over the coming years.

Nominations must be treated confidentially — the nominees should not know they are being nominated if possible.

For information on the typical profile of successful nominations, please visit the Simons Foundation website, where a list of current awardees may be found:
https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-investigators/?tab=awardees

Internal Deadline
External Deadline
11/03/2022
Solicitation Type

2022 Simons Investigators in Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, and Computer Science

The foundation will accept up to two nominations per institution in each of the Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics and Theoretical Computer Science programs (e.g., two in Mathematics, two in Physics) and up to one additional nomination in Theoretical Physics in Life Sciences.

Because of the institutional limits and nomination process, this opportunity is Institutionally Coordinated.

Contact Marie Teemant, Associate, Research Development Services if interested in making a nomination or being nominated.

Any nominees and categories are confidential and will not be listed on the Limited Submissions Table. 

Research Category
Internal Deadline
External Deadline
10/20/2021
Solicitation Type

2020 Simons Investigators in Mathematics, Physics, Astrophysics, and Computer Science

Because of the institutional limit and a confidential nomination process, this opportunity is Institutionally Coordinated.

Internal Deadline
External Deadline
10/31/2019
Solicitation Type