The Simons Foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) division invites applications for its Scientific Software Research Faculty Award (SSRF Award) in the MPS program for faculty appointments to start no later than September 1, 2027. The foundation strongly encourages scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups to apply. The Simons Foundation invites applications for funding to support new research professor positions in existing academic departments (the “host institutions”) to be filled by scientific software-focused researchers. The SSRF Award will support researchers with a strong track record of leadership in scientific software development. This program aims to stimulate the development and maintenance of core scientific software infrastructure in academic environments by creating a new, long-term, faculty-level career path. The $50,000 allowance provided to the awardee may be used at the awardee’s discretion to support expenses.

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 a new clinical professor, professor of practice or equivalent-level positions in a mathematics, astronomy, physics or similar department such that a maximum of 50 per cent 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 for by the Simons Foundation.
• Simons Foundation employees who receive a W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) from the Simons Foundation, including employees of the Flatiron Institute, may not apply as a principal investigator (PI) to any Simons Foundation or Simons Foundation International Requests for Applications (RFAs) released by the Simons 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 Simons Foundation, which includes the Flatiron Institute.

Letters of Intent (LOIs) must be completed electronically and submitted via the Simon Award Manager (SAM) by January 21, 2026, at 12 p.m. (noon) EST.

https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/scientific-software-research-faculty-award