About the programme
Supports Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D. scientists in non-independent mentored research positions who are competitive for faculty jobs. Provides an optional two-year postdoctoral award plus a three-year faculty research award to support the start of an independent lab. Applicants submit a proposal on their future lab's scientific vision, relevant to SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE, with separate applications required for each area applied to. The 2027 call is the last RFA for SCPAB.
Eligibility
- Hold a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree
- Be in a non-independent mentored research training position in a faculty member's lab, such as a postdoctoral or physician-scientist fellowship
- Not accept a formal offer for a tenure-track faculty position or equivalent before receiving an award notification
- Not hold substantial federal PI grant funding (e.g., NIH R01) or other PI-level faculty funding (e.g., SFARI Pilot Award)
- Not hold other career development awards that facilitate transition to independence at application or simultaneously with this award
- Applied to this award for no more than two years in total (includes predecessor independence programs)
- Simons Foundation or Flatiron Institute W-2 employees may not apply as PI; China and Hong Kong institutions are not funded
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What they look for
- Currently competitive for a faculty job; most successful applicants have at least one publication or preprint from their current position
- No citizenship requirements
What you will need
- Proposal narrative (up to 5 pages)
- Graphical abstract (1 page)
- Personnel biosketch (up to 5 pages) with publications list URL
- Personal statement (1 page)
- Optional other information (100 words)
- Statement of changes (SFARI resubmissions only)
- Confirmation letter from institution for mentored training position
- Three confidential reference letters, at least one from current mentor
- Budget for two-year postdoctoral award
- Other support and publications information
How to apply
- Submit full application via Simons Award Manager (SAM) by noon Eastern time on January 13, 2027
- Institutional signing official must sign and submit the application
- Finalists invited to a virtual interview with a panel
- Fellows expected to apply to faculty positions in September 2027 and start during 2028–2029 academic year
Applications are submitted on Simons Foundation’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.
From people who applied
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Source and verification
- Official source
- Simons Foundation
- Last checked
- 9 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page
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