Simons Centers of Excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Simons Centers of Excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities is sponsored by Simons Foundation. Funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation, this program supports up to two ambitious research and training Centers of Excellence (CoEs) at HBCU institutions.

It prioritizes cutting-edge computational, data-driven, and theoretical research in areas including mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and ecology/evolutionary biology, while building sustainable pathways for students into graduate STEM programs.

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Science, Society & Culture Science, Society & Culture LOI Decision Notifications & Full Application Open Date Full Application Submission Deadline Full Application Decision Notifications LOI Decision Notifications & Full Application Open Date Full Application Submission Deadline Full Application Decision Notifications Monday – Friday, 9:00 a. m. – 5:00 p.

m. Eastern time The Simons Foundation offices will be closed December 24, 2026–January 1, 2027, and January 18, 2027. The Simons Foundation’s Science, Society and Culture division is accepting applications for the Simons Centers of Excellence at Historically Black Colleges and Universities program.

Deadline for application submission: 12 p. m. (noon) Eastern time on November 12, 2026.

The Simons HBCU Centers of Excellence program, funded by Simons Foundation International (SFI) and administered by the Simons Foundation (SF), will support up to two Centers of Excellence (“CoEs”) at HBCU institutions in mathematics, neuroscience, physics and ecology & evolutionary biology.

The program aims to foster research excellence and collaboration, and to provide pathways for students to successfully enroll in graduate STEM programs. Each CoE will be an ambitious research and training hub grounded in cutting-edge computational, data-driven, and theoretical basic science and mathematics.

Proposals with experimental or observational science projects that meaningfully supplement a primary computational, data-driven or theoretical program will be considered in exceptional cases. The CoE must be anchored at a single HBCU institution, which will serve as the lead applicant and host of the center. However, CoEs are strongly encouraged to engage nearby institutions and establish partnerships with leading research institutions.

Collaborative arrangements with other institutions should be described in the proposal. Research output of CoEs will be expected to be of the highest quality, advancing the development of the respective field, with well-defined scholarly deliverables disseminated via open-access repositories and peer-reviewed journals. An informational webinar about the award program will be held on October 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.

m. Eastern Time on Zoom. Register here .

Each Center of Excellence (“CoE”) must be established in an accredited Historically Black College and University as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, or an academic institute that is part of an HBCU. Each CoE will be expected to benefit nearby institutions by welcoming other scientists to participate in their scholarly activities and by stimulating the work of younger researchers from those institutions.

Each proposal will be required to clearly outline concrete plans for the CoE to serve as a hub of excellence for nearby institutions. CoEs will be expected to seek scientific exchanges with leading research institutions that prioritize basic science and mathematics. Plans for partnerships with institutions with concretely identified resources supporting such partnerships will be an important consideration in the review process.

Each CoE will be led by a Principal Investigator (PI)/Director who will be a tenured faculty member at an accredited HBCU or an academic institute that is part of an HBCU. The PI will set the scientific agenda and be responsible for its fulfillment. PIs will be expected to hold a Ph.

D. and be excellent scientists at an active stage of their research careers with a demonstrated record of recognized scholarship. Their scholarship should be comparable to that of an associate or full professor.

Interdisciplinary groups of PIs are welcome. The PI will serve as the Director of the CoE and will be the primary contact with SF. The Director will be responsible for academic and administrative matters, including budgetary oversight of the CoE.

A PI/Director who sets the scientific agenda and oversees the CoE; Research scientists (all Ph. D.

holders) hired by the PI, who will engage in the CoE’s research agenda and who will be afforded freedom to pursue their own research projects relevant to the CoE; A Program Administrator who will report to the Director and manage logistics and budgetary matters; A minimum of three faculty members, two graduate students and two postdoctoral researchers.

CoEs are strongly encouraged to engage nearby institutions and establish partnerships with leading research institutions. The Director can recruit CoE personnel from other research institutions. The PI and research scientists will be expected to recruit students and actively engage them in the research agenda.

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.

SF will prioritize proposals with ambitious research and training programs in cutting-edge computational, data-driven, and theoretical basic science and in mathematics. To illustrate: A mathematician focused on improving our understanding of the geometry of moduli spaces in a range of contexts or a physicist building computational models of complex systems would be well aligned with this priority.

For neuroscience computational modeling of biological and behavioral systems would be well aligned.

For ecology and evolutionary biology, we are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research that jointly considers processes on both ecological and evolutionary timescales, or that links studies of ecology and evolution to other STEM fields, including physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry and other areas of biology, especially genetics.

An ecologist conducting field-based observational studies as their primary research activity would be less competitive; however, proposals in which observational or experimental work meaningfully supplements a primary computational or theoretical program will be considered in exceptional cases.

Award Amount: Up to $1,500,000 USD per year over five years, for a total award amount of $7,500,000 USD, inclusive of 20 percent indirect costs (see grant policies ). Award Duration: September 1, 2027, through August 31, 2032. During year four, a comprehensive review of the CoE and its progress will be conducted.

Continued funding into year five will be contingent on satisfactory progress as determined by SF and the external review committee. Number of Awards: We expect to select up to two (2) Centers of Excellence for funding.

Use of Funds: Allowable expenses include personnel costs (PI, research scientists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, Program Administrator), travel, conference registration, materials and supplies, equipment, annual scientific meeting costs, external advisory committee convenings, publication support and research stipends for students. Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) via Simons Award Manager (SAM) by 12 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time on November 12, 2026. The Principal Investigator/Center of Excellence Director is responsible for submitting the LOI. When completing the LOI, applicants must refer to the “How to Apply” tab for details about LOI requirements and submission instructions.

LOIs will be reviewed by Simons Foundation staff. Review criteria include, but are not limited to: Intellectual Merit (30%): Proposals will be evaluated on the scientific rigor, originality and significance of the proposed research program.

Proposals will be assessed using criteria modeled on NSF’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts framework, to help faculty build competitive grant-writing skills and prepare for future federal submissions. Alignment with SF Research Priorities (30%): Projects that are cutting edge computational, data-driven, and/or theoretical in nature and grounded in basic science or mathematics will be prioritized.

Qualifications and Demonstrated Work (15%): The PI and proposed research scientists will be expected to have a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly accomplishment commensurate with their career stage. Student Engagement Plan (15%): Reviewers will assess the quality and specificity of the plan for engaging undergraduate and graduate students.

Hub Strategy and Sustainability Plan (10%): Reviewers will assess the quality and credibility of the CoE’s plan to serve as a regional hub of excellence and to sustain research activity beyond the award period. Upon review, select applicants will be invited to submit a full application via SAM by December 17, 2026. Full applications must be submitted by 12 p.

m. (noon) Eastern time on February 9, 2027. When completing the full application, applicants must refer to the “How to Apply” tab and the LOI approval notification they received for details on the full application requirements and submission instructions.

Full applications will be reviewed by Simons Foundation scientific staff and an expert review committee. Review criteria include, but are not limited to: Intellectual Merit (30%): Proposals will be evaluated on the scientific rigor, originality, and significance of the proposed research program.

Proposals will be assessed using criteria modeled on the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts framework, to help faculty build competitive grant-writing skills and prepare for future federal submissions.

Applicants should clearly articulate the long-term research vision of the CoE, how the award will enable the team to build a competitive and collaborative research program, and how the work will position them to submit future proposals to NSF, NIH or other major funders. Strong proposals will demonstrate a coherent, feasible and ambitious multiyear research agenda with well-defined scholarly deliverables.

Alignment with SF Research Priorities (30%): Projects that are cutting-edge computational, data-driven and/or theoretical in nature and grounded in basic science or mathematics will be prioritized. Proposals with experimental or observational science projects supplementing the primary computational, data-driven and theoretical programs will be considered for funding in exceptional cases.

Reviewers will assess the degree to which the proposed research reflects the frontier of the relevant field and the CoE’s potential to impact that field. Qualifications and Demonstrated Work (15%): The PI and proposed research scientists will be expected to have a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly accomplishment commensurate with their career stage.

Reviewers will evaluate the leadership team’s collective capacity to execute the proposed research agenda and to build a thriving center. A strong application will include a narrative that contextualizes the team’s accomplishments and articulates why this team is well-positioned to lead a CoE.

Student Engagement Plan (15%): Reviewers will assess the quality and specificity of the plan for engaging undergraduate and graduate students in research.

A strong student-engagement plan will: Identify the number and level (undergraduate/graduate) of students to be supported; Describe the specific research roles students will play and the mentoring structures that will support them; Articulate a concrete plan for supporting students’ science identity and sense of belonging, such as participation in cohort-based research experiences, peer mentoring, science communication activities or connection to broader research communities; Include a plan for tracking student outcomes (e.g., graduate school enrollment, conference presentations, co-authored publications) and administering an annual survey to students for two to three years following the conclusion of their participation in CoE-supported research.

Hub Strategy and Sustainability Plan (10%): Reviewers will assess the quality and credibility of the CoE’s plans to serve as a regional hub of excellence and to sustain research activity beyond the award period.

A strong plan will: Identify nearby institutions that will benefit from the CoE and describe concrete mechanisms for engagement; Name specific partner institutions with identified resources supporting scientific exchange; Outline a realistic path to federal funding and institutional sustainability beyond the five-year award; Detail a plan to host annual scientific meetings and to convene an external advisory committee.

These gatherings are expected to support scientific exchange, community building, and accountability for the CoE’s research agenda. Describe how the CoE will grow a community of scholars who will carry the research forward after the award concludes. Note: Alignment with SF STEM Pathways Strategic Goals will be evaluated holistically across all five criteria rather than as a stand-alone score.

SF’s long-term goal is to triple the number of underrepresented students who earn Ph. D. s in mathematics and basic sciences within 10 years.

Reviewers will consider how each proposal advances this mission through its research vision, student engagement approach and hub strategy. Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation” or “SF”) reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (“SFI”) for consideration and funding.

SFI and SF have entered into an agreement pursuant to which SF provides program operations and grant administration services, including payment processing, to SFI. SFI grant recipients are subject to SF Policies and Procedures . Additional award terms may be included in the official award notification.

Grantees are subject to the conditions outlined in their official award notification. Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science and Opportunities for All Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to advancing basic science and mathematics to benefit humankind and expand our collective understanding of our world.

As part of our mission, we support partners, programs and initiatives that seek to broaden the scientific community and open pathways to science and mathematics careers.

The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants for funding without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.

LOI Decision Notifications & Full Application Open Date Full Application Submission Deadline Full Application Decision Notifications Monday – Friday, 9:00 a. m. – 5:00 p.

m. Eastern time The Simons Foundation offices will be closed December 24, 2026–January 1, 2027, and January 18, 2027. Deadline for Letter of Intent Submission: 12 p.

m. (noon) Eastern time on November 12, 2026. Create a Letter of Intent (LOI): The Principal Investigator (PI)/Director of the Center of Excellence must be the one to create and submit the LOI.

Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission: To submit an LOI, the following sections must be completed in SAM: The applicant’s name and institution will appear in this section. The institution will default to the user’s primary affiliation in their SAM profile. Please ensure the listed institution is the one to which funds must be administered if selected for funding.

If the institution or applicant must be changed, please refer to the SAM Frequently Asked Questions for assistance. Applicant Details: Enter all required fields, including your ORCID iD. The applicant may edit information via the “Edit Profile” button as needed.

To add your ORCID iD, navigate to the ORCID tab of the user profile, and select the “Create or Connect Your ORCID iD” button to link to your ORCID profile. Applicants must complete their profiles by clicking the “Complete Profile” button on the user profile in order to submit. Degree(s): Click the “Add/Modify Degree(s)” button to provide this information.

Enter a title, start and end date. Start dates must occur on the first of the month, and end dates must be on the last day of the month. Please refer to the RFA guidelines for any restrictions on award period lengths and dates.

LOI Narrative: Upload a PDF using the template available for download in SAM, which includes the instructions, formatting requirements and page limits. Personnel Biosketches: Upload a PDF of the applicant’s biosketch, as well as any key collaborators or personnel. Biosketches must be in SciENcv-, NIH- or NSF-style format.

Indicate the extent to which, if any, generative AI technology was used and how it was used to develop your proposal. Contacts & Personnel Tab: Institution Administrative Contacts: Institution contacts are not required at this stage. However, if you would like to grant an institutional official or administrator access to your application, please add them to this section.

Project Personnel: All project personnel, including, but not limited to, additional PIs, co-investigators, research scientists, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates, must be added to this section. Please do not add the applicant to this section.

Subcontracts: Applications with multiple PIs from different institutions that would like to be paid directly by the main institution must be added to the “Project Personnel” section, as follows: Will there be a subcontract? (Indicate Yes.) Click the “Add/Modify” button to add the Subcontract PI.

If the Subcontract PI should be given access to the application to complete their own budget, please add them in the role “Subcontract Lead – With Application Access. ” This will send an email to the Subcontract PI notifying them that they have been granted access to the application. If the Subcontract PI should not be given access to the application, please add them in the role of “Subcontract Contact – Without Access.

” Once added to the table, click the “Add More Details” button and select the role “Subcontract Lead” from the dropdown. In this case, they will not receive a notification. Please click the “Save Draft” button in order for the newly added personnel to be displayed in the table.

Multisite Applications: Applications with multiple PIs from different institutions that would like to be paid separately must be added to the “Project Personnel” section, as follows: Will there be multiple sites? (Indicate Yes.) Click the “Add/Modify” button to add each individual PI, excluding the Spokesperson PI, in the role Principal Investigator (Multisite).

Each PI will receive a notification informing them that they have been added as a Multisite PI. Please click the “Save Draft” button in order for the newly added personnel to display in the table. Check Application Progress: Click the “Check Application Progress” button to verify that all required information and files have been submitted.

Any missing requirements will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted. Submit Application: Click the “Submit Application” button. A confirmation page will appear once the application is successfully submitted.

You will also receive an email confirming its submission. The submitted LOI will appear in the “Submitted” tab of the “Applications and Awards” table on your SAM home page. Once your application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation staff will be in touch if we require any additional information or revisions to your application.

LOI Approval: If an LOI is approved, the status will change to “In Progress” and appear in the “Draft” column of the “Applications and Awards” table. A notification will be sent to the PI listed on the application, inviting them to submit a full application in SAM. Separate full applications will also be created for any personnel who were added in the role of Principal Investigator (Multisite).

All Principal Investigator (Multisite) applications must be signed and submitted to the Spokesperson PI, who is responsible for submitting the entire Multisite package to the foundation. Deadline for Full Application Submission: 12 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time on February 9, 2027. The full application can be found in the “Drafts” tab of the “Applications and Awards” table on your SAM home page. Full Application Submission: Please adhere to any additional guidelines that may be included in your LOI Approval notification.

The following sections must be completed in SAM: The applicant’s name and institution will appear in this section. The institution will default to the user’s primary affiliation in their SAM profile. Please ensure the listed institution is the one to which funds must be administered if selected for funding.

If the institution or applicant must be changed, please refer to the SAM Frequently Asked Questions for assistance. Applicant Details: Enter all required fields. The applicant may edit information via the “Edit Profile” button as needed.

Applicants must complete their profiles in order to submit. Degree(s): Click the “Add/Modify Degree(s)” button to provide this information. Enter a title, start and end date.

Start dates must occur on the first of the month, and end dates must be on the last day of the month. Please refer to the RFA guidelines for any restrictions on award period lengths and dates. For multisite applications: Please make sure that all Collaboration/Multisite Principal Investigator (PI) applications have the same title, start and end dates as the Spokesperson PI’s application.

Proposal Narrative: Upload a PDF using the template available for download in SAM, which includes the instructions, formatting requirements and page limits. For multisite applications: Only the Director is responsible for submitting the proposal narrative. Indicate the extent to which, if any, generative AI technology was used and how it was used to develop your proposal.

Indicate if the PI or any project personnel listed on this application are affiliated with the Simons Foundation or the Flatiron Institute as visiting scholars, independent contractors or employees. Data & Renewable Reagents: If applicable, indicate your plan for generating and sharing data and/or renewable reagents.

Contacts & Personnel Tab: Institution Administrative Contacts: At least one Signing Official and one Financial Officer must be added to this section. Project Personnel: All project personnel, including, but not limited to, additional PIs, co-investigators, research scientists, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates, must be added to this section. Please do not add the applicant to this section.

Subcontracts: Applications with multiple PIs from different institutions that would like to be paid directly by the main institution must be added to the “Project Personnel” section in order to generate separate budgets for each PI, as follows: Will there be a subcontract? : Indicate Yes. Click the “Add/Modify” button to add the Subcontract PI.

If the Subcontract PI should be given access to the application to complete their own budget, please add them in the role “Subcontract Lead – With Application Access. ” This will send an email to the Subcontract PI notifying them that they have been granted access to the application, and a subcontract budget will be created for them in the “Budget” tab.

If the Subcontract PI should not be given access to the application, please add them in the role of “Subcontract Contact – Without Access. ” Once added to the table, click the “Add More Details” button and select the role “Subcontract Lead” from the dropdown. In this case, a subcontract budget will be created for them in the “Budget” tab; however, they will not receive a notification.

The main PI will be responsible for completing the subcontract budget on behalf of the Subcontract PI. Please click the “Save Draft” button in order for the newly added personnel to display in the table.

Multisite Applications: Applications with multiple PIs from different institutions that would like to be paid separately must be added to the Project Personnel section in order to generate separate applications for each PI, as follows: Will there be multiple sites? (Indicate Yes.) Click the “Add/Modify” button to add each individual PI, excluding the Spokesperson PI/Director, in the role Principal Investigator (Multisite).

Each PI will receive a notification informing them that they have been added as a Multisite PI. Please click the “Save Draft” button in order for the newly added personnel to display in the table. Separate full applications will be created for each PI, and they are responsible for submitting their completed application to the Spokesperson PI.

A “Principal Investigators” tab will appear on the application, displaying the list of all Multisite PIs and the record IDs of their individual applications. Budget Tab: Click the “Edit/Modify” button to complete a budget for the proposed project. Please adhere to all budget guidelines listed in the RFA, your LOI Approval notification, and the detailed instructions provided within the budget window.

The total amount requested for each individual budget period must be a whole number. You must first enter the start and end dates in the “Proposal” tab to open the budget window. If there is a subcontract, you must first add the subcontract lead to the “Project Personnel” section of the “Contacts & Personnel” tab.

Once added, a subcontract budget will be created and must be completed. If including personnel costs, you must add the relevant personnel to the “Project Personnel” section of the “Contacts & Personnel” tab. If personnel have not been hired at the time of submission, you may report their costs under TBD.

Publications & Other Support Tab: Publications: Please report any publications (submitted to journals, published in journals or published on preprint server) via PDF upload or by selecting from your profile. Applicants selecting from their profile can import data from other publication databases such as ORCID, PubMed or OpenAlex.

Other Support: Please report any current or pending funding sources via PDF upload (SciENcv-, NIH- or NSF-style format) or by selecting them from your profile. Applicants selecting from their profile can import data from other publication databases such as ORCID. Organization Assurances Tab: Indicate if organizational assurances are required for the project, such as IRB, IACUC and/or biosafety approvals.

If yes, you will be prompted to provide additional information. Check Application Progress: Click the “Check Application Progress” button to verify that all required information and files have been submitted. Any missing requirements will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted.

Institutional Sign-off and Application Submission: For Non-multisite Applications: When the application is complete, please click the “Send for Sign-off” button to send the application to your Signing Official for signature. You will not be able to send the application for sign-off if any application requirements are missing.

The Signing Official will receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that an application requires their signature. The Signing Official must electronically sign the application via the “Submission” tab of the application. Once their signature is entered and saved, the Signing Official must click the “Submit Signature” button.

This will officially submit the application to the foundation. Upon submitting their signature, the Signing Official will see a confirmation page, and the application will now appear in the “Submitted” tab of the “Applications and Awards” table. The applicant, Signing Official and Financial Officer will receive an email from [email protected] when the application is signed and submitted.

Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed. For Multisite Applications: Institutional Sign-off: When the application is complete, each individual PI must click the “Send for Sign-off” button on their respective application to send it to their Signing Officials for signature. You will not be able to send the application for sign-off if any application requirements are missing.

The Signing Official will receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that an application requires their signature. The Signing Official must electronically sign the application via the “Submission” tab of the application. Once their signature is entered and saved, the Signing Official must click the “Submit Signature” button.

Upon submitting their signature, the Signing Official will see a confirmation page. For Collaboration PIs, this will move their applications to “Submitted to Spokesperson PI” status, and they will receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that the application has been submitted to the SPI.

The SPI will also receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that a collaboration application has been submitted for their review. For the SPI, this will move their application to “Signed – Pending Submission” status, and they will receive an email from [email protected] notifying them that the application has been signed, but is still pending submission.

Please note that you will not be able to submit the applications if the deadline has passed. Collaboration Package Submission: Once the SPI’s application and all Collaboration PI applications have been signed, the SPI must click the “Submit Application Package” button on their application, which will submit the package to the foundation.

Once the package has been successfully submitted, the SPI will see a confirmation page, and the package will appear in the “Submitted” tab of the “Applications and Awards” table. The SPI and each Collaboration PI will receive an email from [email protected] when the collaboration package has been submitted. Please note that you will not be able to submit the package if the deadline has passed.

Once your application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation staff will be in touch if we require any additional information or revisions to your application. Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation” or “SF”) reserves the right to refer an application to The Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (“SFI”) for consideration and funding.

SFI and SF have entered into an agreement pursuant to which SF provides program operations and grant administration services, including payment processing, to SFI. SFI grant recipients are subject to SF Policies and Procedures . LOI Decision Notifications & Full Application Open Date Full Application Submission Deadline Full Application Decision Notifications Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.

m. – 5:00 p. m.

Eastern time The Simons Foundation offices will be closed December 24, 2026–January 1, 2027, and January 18, 2027. Which institutions are eligible to apply? Each Center of Excellence (CoE) must be established in an accredited Historically Black College and University (HBCU) as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, or an academic institute that is part of an HBCU.

Can a consortium of HBCUs apply together? The CoE must be anchored at a single HBCU institution, which will serve as the lead applicant and host of the center. However, CoEs are strongly encouraged to engage nearby institutions and establish partnerships with leading research institutions.

Collaborative arrangements with other institutions should be described in the proposal. Can an academic institute that is part of an HBCU apply, even if the HBCU itself is not the applicant? Yes, provided the institute is part of an accredited HBCU as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965.

The relationship between the institute and the HBCU should be clearly described in the application. Which research fields are eligible? The CoE program supports research in mathematics, neuroscience, physics and ecology & evolutionary biology.

Proposals outside these fields will not be considered. Can a CoE span more than one eligible field? Yes.

Interdisciplinary CoEs that span multiple eligible fields are welcome, provided the research is grounded in basic science and aligned with Simons Foundation (SF) research priorities. Who should serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)/Director of a CoE? The PI/Director should hold a Ph.

D. , be a tenured faculty member and an excellent scientist at an active stage of their research career, with a demonstrated record of recognized scholarship. Their scholarship should be