Simons Fellows-to-Faculty Award 2027: $600,000 Research Grant

Applications are open for the Simons Foundation Fellows-to-Faculty Award 2027. The programme helps early-career autism and neuroscience researchers move from mentored training into independent, tenure-track faculty careers through research funding, mentorship and professional development.

Organization: Simons Foundation — Autism & Neuroscience
Programme: Fellows-to-Faculty Award 2027
Location: Research institutions within or outside the United States, subject to funding restrictions
Funding: $600,000 faculty research grant over three years; optional postdoctoral support for up to two years
Deadline: 13 January 2027, 12:00 noon ET
Award start: 1 September 2027

About the award

The award supports scientists preparing to launch their own laboratories. Fellows join an interdisciplinary community, meet investigators, attend retreats and work with a career mentor. Support also covers navigating the faculty job market, negotiating a start-up package and establishing an independent research career.

Research areas

Your future laboratory’s scientific vision must advance at least one of these programmes:

• SFARI: Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative.
• SCPAB: Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain.
• SCENE: Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience.

Applicants may apply to several areas through separate, tailored applications. This is the final SCPAB Fellows-to-Faculty call.

Who can apply?

• Hold a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate.
• Currently hold a non-independent, mentored research training position.
• Do not accept a tenure-track or equivalent faculty offer before award notification.
• Do not hold substantial PI-level funding or a conflicting award supporting transition to independence.
• Meet the programme’s limit of applying in no more than two years, including predecessor awards.

There is no citizenship requirement. Funding may be held internationally, but institutions in China, including Hong Kong, and specified related funding arrangements are excluded. Foundation employees and certain project personnel are also ineligible; read the full call for details.

Fellows should be ready to seek faculty posts in September 2027 and start during the 2028–2029 academic year.

Funding and support

The faculty award provides $200,000 per year for three years, including 20% indirect costs. It supplements an institution’s full start-up package and supports research costs, including laboratory staff and specialist equipment.

The optional postdoctoral award provides up to $110,000 annually for two years: an $85,000 stipend, $10,000 career development allowance and $15,000 for health insurance and other benefits. It ends when the fellow leaves the postdoctoral position or reaches the maximum duration. Accepting this phase is optional.

How to apply

1. Read the official 2027 call and detailed instructions.
2. Sign in to your own Simons Award Manager (SAM) account.
3. Under Funding Opportunities, select the Fellows-to-Faculty Postdoctoral Award for your chosen research area and click Create Application.
4. Complete the proposal, personnel, budget, reference and publications/other-support sections. Follow the area-specific templates.
5. Check application progress, obtain required institutional sign-off and submit before 13 January 2027 at noon Eastern.

Plan around reference and institutional approval requirements. Use the official instructions for the full document specifications and submission process.

Key dates

• 13 January 2027, noon ET: application deadline.
• 14 May 2027: SCPAB interviews.
• 26 May 2027: SCENE interviews.
• 14–16 June 2027: SFARI interviews.
• Early–mid July 2027: decisions.
• 1 September 2027: award start.

Official application portal ↗

Official 2027 call · How to apply · Programme details