IMU-Simons African Fellowship Program in USA 2022

IMU-Simons African Fellowship is a program that is intended to support research sabbaticals of mathematicians from African developing nations and employed in Africa. This program involves traveling to an internationally recognized mathematical center of excellence (globally) for collaborative research. All travel and living costs of the grantees will be funded by the fellowship – about 5,000 USD.

IMU-Simons African Fellowship program is sponsored by the Simons Foundation, NY, the USA, which is a private foundation located in New York City. It is being incorporated in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons and will continue run until 31st of 08, 2022.

The Simons Foundation’s goal is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. They fund a variety of programs in the sciences, as well as grants programs in mathematics and the physical sciences. Ensure to go through the Simons Foundation Website.

Deadlines

• For research visits between May 15^th, 2022 and May 15^th, 2023, deadline is January 15^th, 2022, (Decisions – by March 15^th, 2022).
• For research visits commencing between August 1^st, 2022 and August 1^st, 2023, deadline is April 15^th, 2022 (Decisions – by June 15^th, 2022).
• For research visits commencing between November 1^st, 2022 and November 1^st, 2023, deadline is July 15^th, 2022 (Decisions – by September 15^th, 2022).
• For research visits between January 15^th, 2023 and January 15^th, 2024, deadline is October 1^st, 2022 (Decisions – by November 15^th, 2022).

Eligibility for IMU-Simons African Fellowship

To meet the requirements for IMU-Simons African Fellowship, applicants must satisfy the requirements below:

1. Hold a valid doctoral degree (PhD) in mathematics.
2. Reside (place of work) in an African developing country.
3. Employed as a mathematician in a faculty of a university or an higher education institution that is equivalent.
4. Should have established contact with a mathematician in the host institution in a mathematical centre of excellence and posses a definite research plan together with the host. This has to be submitted as part of the application.
5. Must be given proper leave of absence from his/her home institution during the duration of the visit.
6. The candidate must be officially invited by the host institution, via a written letter which evidently specifies the duration of the research visit and the extent of the host institutions’ financial commitment and assistant to the candidate. Host institutions are expected to provide office space, free internet access and other basic amenities.
7. The least length of a visit is one month. There is no maximum period, although this is a sabbatical/ research visit and not a fellowship position in the host institution (e.g. doing a post-doctoral).

How to Apply for IMU-Simons African Fellowship

To win the IMU-Simons African Fellowship, please follow the guidelines below:

• A completed application form must contain all these documents as one PDF Document:
  • CV of the applicant (max. 3 pages)
  • CV of the host (max. 3 pages)
  • Detailed research plan
  • Statement from host indicating views on the visit and the research plan
  • Invitation letter by the host institution
  • Confirmation Letter by the home institution
  • Tentative budget (in USD)
• Only submitted made by the deadline can be acknowledged for the program.
• It is advised to submit applications at least two weeks before the deadline, in case of missing details or documents.
• Go through the forms below for further understanding:
  • Online Application Form
  • Tentative Budget Form
  • Eligible Countries for the IMU-Simons African Fellowship Program
  • Grant Reporting Form

Benefits of IMU-Simons African Fellowship

The grant covers only for the applicant up to 5,000 USD:

1. Travel costs
   • Flight costs (Economy)
   • (Public) transport (surface transport by rail or bus between the closest city where the airport is situated and the headquarters of the applicant or the city/town where the host institution is located, if necessary).
   • Taxi fares – maximum of 4 (on submission of receipts) may be authorized to travel between the home and the airport/railway station (upon arrival and departure).
   • If a candidate has to stay in a hotel prior to departure or after arrival, this needs to be stated in the budget outline. Maximum one night (both arrival and departure) would be paid from the grant.
2. Visa fees
3. Travel insurance charges
4. Basic living cost
5. Accommodation cost in the host country – see official progam website for comprehensive detailos

Please note

• If you do not get an automated reply after application submission, reach out to the management via [email protected].
• You cannot apply for the IMU-Simons African Fellowship Program and the Abel Visiting Scholar Program simultaneously.
• If for some cause the visit is delayed/canceled, please notify the IMU Secretariat immediately.
• All expenses must be verified with invoices and money spent without receipts have to be refunded to CDC.

If there is any question concerning the program, please reach out to the IMU Secretariat through e-mail [email protected].

To make further inquiries about IMU-Simons African Fellowship, please visit the official webpage.