Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution is sponsored by Simons Foundation. These awards provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph. D.

programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution. Interdisciplinary research that jointly considers processes on both ecological and evolutionary timescales, or that links different biological levels of organization, is of particular interest.

Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. Acceptance Deadline (Finalists Only) Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only) August 1, September 1 or October 1, 2027 Acceptance Deadline (Finalists Only) Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only) August 1, September 1 or October 1, 2027 Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.

m. – 5:00 p. m.

Eastern time May 22, 2026, May 25, 2026, and June 19, 2026 Information for 2026 Applicants Information for 2025 Finalists The Simons Foundation’s Life Sciences division is now accepting applications for its Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution. The deadline for receipt of fellowship applications (termed LOI in Simons Award Manager) is June 30, 2026, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time. The purpose of these awards is to provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph. D.

programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution.

While we will consider all projects in ecology and evolution, 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. Applicants must be entering or applying for Ph. D.

programs in biology or a subfield of the life sciences during summer or fall 2026, with matriculation to start no later than October 1, 2027. It is permissible for applicants to already hold a master’s degree, and it is encouraged that they hold a master’s degree in physics, mathematics, computer science or engineering. For more about master’s degrees, see the FAQs.

Individuals who already hold a Ph. D. or other terminal degree in ecology or evolution, or who have enrolled in such a Ph.

D. program prior to summer 2026, are not eligible. Fellowships must be hosted at United States institutions, at a campus within the United States.

In order to hold the fellowship, the fellow must maintain enrollment at the host institution throughout the award period. Individuals may not receive salary support from this fellowship concurrently with salary support from any other source. There are no citizenship requirements.

Fellows are responsible for obtaining and maintaining the appropriate visa, if applicable. 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.

Level and Duration of Funding Grant funding will be for a maximum of three years of financial support usable over a five-year fellowship period. Awards will total $265,800, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs). This covers three years’ worth of full-time support within a five-year period.

For each year of full-time support, the budget is set as follows: $50,000 stipend ($4,166. 66 per month); a maximum of $25,000 cost of education allowance; $3,000 research funds; and up to $10,600 in indirect costs. The cost of education allowance may be used for tuition, tuition-related fees, health insurance for the fellow and their family, and other benefits as required by the institution.

Indirect costs are not permitted on the cost of education allowance. Any funds remaining from the cost of education allowance must be made available to the fellow as additional research funds. Research funds may be used for: research supplies, small equipment (including computers), publication costs, attendance at scientific meetings and other research-related travel.

Although fellows will be expected to attend and present their research at an annual meeting, these costs will be covered by the foundation outside of grant funds and should not be charged to the fellowship. Costs for new student visas (including expenses incurred for visas prior to the award start date) and for student visa renewals within the award period are an allowable expense under the research funds category.

Up to $2,000 of the cost of education allowance may be used for relocation of the fellow and family to the host institution. Relocation costs must be in accordance with the policies of the host institution. Payment cannot be made directly to fellows.

Prior to each grant year, the host institution must certify how much support is requested from the fellowship for that year, by number of months. The decision regarding when to draw upon the fellowship is at the discretion of the fellow. The stipend and cost of education allowance for that grant period will be prorated based on the number of months of support required from the fellowship.

The research funds can be budgeted in any grant year, regardless of whether stipend and cost of education allowance are budgeted. Reallocation: Funds may not be reallocated to or from the stipend. Funds may be reallocated from the cost of education allowance to the research allowance, but not from the research allowance to the cost of education allowance.

Grant transfers: Transfers to another institution are permitted with prior approval from the foundation. The decision of whether to transfer is at the discretion of the fellow. No-Cost extensions: No-cost extensions will not be permitted.

Awards will begin August 1, 2027; September 1, 2027; or October 1, 2027. Please see our grant policies for further guidelines. Submission of Fellowship Application Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective fellow.

Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by June 30, 2026, 12:00 p. m. (noon) Eastern time .

LOIs must be completed electronically and submitted through the Simons Award Manager (SAM) . Please refer to the How to Apply instructions and FAQ for further details. 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 . The review process will include evaluations by experts in the field, who will make recommendations to the Simons Foundation Life Sciences staff.

Fellowship finalists will be announced by October 30, 2026. All finalists will receive an award pending acceptance to an approved graduate program starting by fall 2027 and submission of a complete full application. Full applications will require submission of a budget and brief budget justification, and a signature indicating institutional approval, by May 27, 2027.

Awards are made to the institution of higher education at which the fellow will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for the financial management of the award and the disbursement of fellowship funds to the individual fellow. Payment cannot be made directly to fellows.

Applicants will receive formal award notifications by July 1, 2027. 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.

2025 Request for Applications Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only) May 28, 2026 Award Notification July 1, 2026 Award Start Date August 1, September 1 or October 1, 2026 The Simons Foundation’s Life Sciences division is now accepting applications for its Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution. The deadline for receipt of fellowship applications (termed LOI in Simons Award Manager) is July 31, 2025, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time. The purpose of these awards is to provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph. D.

programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution.

While we will consider all projects in ecology and evolution, 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. Applicants must be entering or applying for Ph. D.

programs in biology or a subfield of the life sciences during fall 2025, with matriculation to start no later than October 1, 2026. It is permissible for applicants to hold a master’s degree, and it is encouraged that they hold a master’s degree in physics, mathematics, computer science or engineering. Individuals who already hold a Ph.

D. or other terminal degree, or who have enrolled in a Ph. D.

program prior to fall 2025, are not eligible. Fellowships must be hosted at United States institutions, at a campus within the United States. In order to hold the fellowship, the fellow must maintain enrollment at the host institution throughout the award period.

Individuals may not receive salary support from this fellowship concurrently with salary support from any other source. There are no citizenship requirements. Fellows are responsible for obtaining and maintaining the appropriate visa, if applicable.

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.

Level and Duration of Funding (2025) Grant funding will be for a maximum of three years of financial support usable over a five-year fellowship period. Awards will total $265,800, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs). This covers three years’ worth of full-time support within a five-year period.

For each year of full-time support, the budget is set as follows: $50,000 stipend ($4,166. 66 per month); a maximum of $25,000 cost of education allowance; $3,000 research funds; and up to $10,600 in indirect costs. The cost of education allowance may be used for tuition, tuition-related fees, health insurance for the fellow and their family, and other benefits as required by the institution.

Indirect costs are not permitted on the cost of education allowance. Any funds remaining from the cost of education allowance must be made available to the fellow as additional research funds. Research funds may be used for: research supplies, small equipment (including computers), publication costs, attendance at scientific meetings and other research-related travel.

Although fellows will be expected to attend and present their research at an annual meeting in New York City, these costs will be covered by the foundation outside of grant funds and should not be charged to the fellowship. Costs for new student visas (including expenses incurred for visas prior to the award start date) and for student visa renewals within the award period are an allowable expense under the research funds category.

Up to $2,000 of the cost of education allowance may be used for relocation of the fellow and family to the host institution. Relocation costs must be in accordance with the policies of the host institution. Payment cannot be made directly to fellows.

Prior to each grant year, the host institution must certify how much support is requested from the fellowship for that year, by number of months. The stipend and cost of education allowance for that grant period will be prorated based on the number of months of support required from the fellowship. The research funds can be budgeted in any grant year, regardless of whether stipend and cost of education allowance are budgeted.

Reallocation: Funds may not be reallocated to or from the stipend. Funds may be reallocated from the cost of education allowance to the research allowance, but not from the research allowance to the cost of education allowance. Grant transfers: Transfers to another institution are permitted with prior approval from the foundation.

No-Cost extensions: No-cost extensions will not be permitted. Awards will begin August 1, 2026; September 1, 2026; or October 1, 2026. Please see our grant policies for further guidelines.

Submission of Fellowship Application (2025) Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective fellow. Applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by July 31, 2025, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time. LOIs must be completed electronically and submitted through the Simons Award Manager (SAM) . Please refer to the How to Apply instructions and FAQ for further details.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations the foundation reserves the right to refer an application to the Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI’s grant policies would apply. The review process will include evaluations by experts in the field, who will make recommendations to the Simons Foundation Life Sciences staff.

Fellowship finalists will be announced by October 31, 2025. All finalists will receive an award pending acceptance to an approved graduate program starting in fall 2026 and submission of a complete full application. Full applications will require submission of a budget and brief budget justification, and a signature indicating institutional approval, by May 28, 2026.

Awards are made to the institution of higher education at which the fellow will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for the financial management of the award and the disbursement of fellowship funds to the individual fellow. Payment cannot be made directly to fellows.

Applicants will receive formal award notifications by July 1, 2026. Our Commitment to Expanding Pathways to Science and Opportunities for All (2025) 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.

Acceptance Deadline (Finalists Only) Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only) August 1, September 1 or October 1, 2027 Monday – Friday, 9:00 a. m. – 5:00 p.

m. Eastern time May 22, 2026, May 25, 2026, and June 19, 2026 Information for 2026 Applicants Information for 2025 Finalists The submission deadline is June 30, 2026, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time . Please plan carefully with your institution and references to meet this deadline. Informational videos on submitting applications in SAM can be found here .

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 . FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION – LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) SUBMISSION: Applicant: The graduate fellow should be listed in the applicant role, which is titled “Fellow” for this award type. Applicants who have been accepted to a Ph.

D. program: The institution that will administer the fellowship and have primary contractual responsibility for the fellowship, if awarded, should be listed here, even if the fellow is not at the institution yet. Applicants who have not yet been accepted to a Ph.

D. program: These applicants should use the institution name “No Affiliation. ” In SAM, the institution name will default to the institution affiliated with the applicant’s user account.

To associate your SAM profile with another institution, please click here for instructions. To create an application under an associated institution, click here for instructions. If you need to change the institution listed on an existing application, click here for instructions.

Contact [email protected] if you need assistance. Applicant Details: Enter ORCID iD. The applicant may use the Edit Profile button to update their information as needed.

Degrees: Enter all academic degrees. If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s degree program, enter your anticipated graduation date. Enter a title that references the proposed research.

Acceptance Status: Indicate if you have accepted a formal offer of admission into a Ph. D. program.

Host Institution: Provide the name of the program/department and institution to which you have been accepted. If you have not yet been formally accepted, enter “N/A. ” Proposal: Upload a two-page Project Proposal to the Letter of Intent Narrative field.

Type should be single-spaced and set in 11-point, legible font. Use U.S. Letter size (8. 5” x 11”) pages.

All margins should be set at 0. 5 inches. The proposal should focus on the research you intend to carry out, and may include: Overall research focus, including discussion of how it fits into the broader research landscape, Specific research questions to be addressed within a three-to-four-year thesis research program, and Potential experimental methods and/or theoretical approaches.

Figures/images are permitted but must fit within the two-page limit. Photos of the applicant are not permitted. Roughly five–10 references to existing literature would be appropriate, and may be added on an additional page.

Applicant Biosketch: Note that you are required to use the provided template. Please download the template by clicking the link in the field instructions, then upload the completed document using the Upload button. Limit the Personal Statement section to no more than 250 words.

Include full citations for all publications and published data sets. Do not include a photo of the applicant in the biosketch. Refer to NIH biosketch instructions for further guidance, as needed.

Number of Publications (Published): Enter the number of publications (including published data sets) that have been published or that are accepted/in press. Number of Publications (Unpublished): Enter the number of publications that have been submitted or are under review. Transcript(s): Upload the applicant’s undergraduate transcript.

Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If the applicant holds a master’s degree or is currently enrolled in a master’s program, upload the master’s transcript as well. If the transcript contains a photo of the applicant, please cover the photo prior to uploading.

The foundation does not use documents with photos of applicants for review. Grade Point Average (GPA): Enter your unweighted undergraduate GPA, including the scale used. For example: “3.

21 out of 4. 0. ” If your undergraduate institution does not calculate GPAs, enter “No GPA.

” Do not include GPAs from graduate programs. Matriculation Date: Enter your matriculation date. If you have already been accepted to the program, this should be the official start date.

If you have not yet been accepted, enter the anticipated date. Matriculation dates must be within the timeline outlined in the RFA’s eligibility section. 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 contacts are not required at the LOI stage. However, if you need to add a contact to assist with completion of the LOI, refer to the instructions provided in SAM to add Institution Administrative Contacts. For individuals who have already been accepted to a Ph.

D. program, you are not required to enter your advisor’s name in this section. Abstract: Include a one-paragraph abstract of your project proposal.

Two confidential letters of recommendation from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievements and scientific interests are required for submission. If the applicant has done undergraduate or master’s research, the research mentor should write one of the letters. Instructions for navigating this tab are included within SAM.

Note that you must enter a date in the Response Date and click Save Draft before you will be able to add referee names and send the invitations. This is so that the email invitation sent by the system contains the due date you set. You will not be able to submit until two references are uploaded.

Please plan accordingly with your references. In SAM, the applicant can set a deadline for the letters of reference that is prior to the overall application deadline. It is highly recommended that applicants set an earlier deadline in the system and also discuss the timing with their references, in order to prevent issues with submission on the day of the deadline.

NOTE: References will not have access to any portion of your application during the upload process. References who are also an approved Institution Official at your institution, or who are added as an Institution Administrative Contact in the Contacts & Personnel section, will be able to see the LOI via their regular system login. If your references do not have either of these roles, they will not have access to your LOI.

Check Application Progress: Click the Check Application Progress button to check for any missing required information or files. All missing required information will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted. Submit Application: When the LOI application is complete, please click on the Submit Application button to submit to the foundation.

Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed. A submitted LOI will appear in the Submitted queue of the Applications in Progress table on your SAM home page. If an LOI is approved, the status changes to In Progress.

Click on the record to gain access to the full proposal application. The deadline for full proposal submission is May 27, 2027, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time . Please plan carefully with your institution to meet this deadline. Start Date: Awards may begin August 1, 2027; September 1, 2027; or October 1, 2027.

End Date: Awards will end five years after the start date. Matriculation Date: Enter the date you will start or have started your Ph. D.

program. Area of Study Confirmation: The fellow and host institution must confirm that the fellow will develop a thesis project within the fields of ecology and/or evolution. Contacts & Personnel Tab: Institution contacts are required at the full application stage.

You must add at least one Institution Signing Official and Financial Officer to the Institution Administrative Contacts section before you will be able to submit. Budget Tab: Click the Edit/Modify button to add a detailed budget. Please refer to the allowable expenses outlined in the RFA and provide justification as appropriate.

The full-time stipend amount is $50,000 per year ($4,166. 66 per month), and three years of full-time support is available across all years of the grant ($150,000 total). The stipend should be prorated based on the number of months of support required from the fellowship within each grant year.

Cost of Education Allowance: The full-time Cost of Education Allowance amount is $25,000 per year, and three years of full-time support is available ($75,000 total). The Cost of Education Allowance must be prorated in alignment with the stipend. Indirect costs are not permitted on the Cost of Education Allowance.

The entire amount budgeted for the Cost of Education Allowance, including health insurance and other benefits required by the institution, must be categorized under the Tuition budget category (not under Personnel fringe). This ensures that SAM will automatically calculate accurate indirect costs. Research Funds: The research funds allowance may be budgeted in any grant year, regardless of the amount of stipend requested.

The amount of support requested for year one in this budget submission will be the final amount awarded for year one. If the amounts needed across future years change during the course of the award, a revised budget may be submitted (due 30 days before the start date of the future grant year). Check Application Progress: Click the Check Application Progress button to check for any missing required information or files.

All missing required information will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted. Send for Sign-off: When the application is complete, please click on the Send for Sign-off button to send to your Signing Official for signature. You will receive a notification when the application is signed.

Submit Application: When the full proposal application is complete and signed, please click on the Submit Application button. A confirmation page will appear once the application is successfully submitted. It will appear in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table.

Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed. Information for 2025 Finalists The deadline for full proposal submission is May 28, 2026, 12:00 p. m.

(noon) Eastern time . Please plan carefully with your institution to meet this deadline. Start Date: Awards may begin August 1, 2026; September 1, 2026; or October 1, 2026.

End Date: Awards will end five years after the start date. Matriculation Date: Enter the date you will start or have started your Ph. D.

program. Area of Study Confirmation: The fellow and host institution must confirm that the fellow will develop a thesis project within the fields of ecology and/or evolution. Contacts & Personnel Tab: Institution contacts are required at the full application stage.

You must add at least one Institution Signing Official and Financial Officer to the Institution Administrative Contacts section before you will be able to submit. Budget Tab: Click the Edit/Modify button to add a detailed budget. Please refer to the allowable expenses outlined in the RFA and provide justification as appropriate.

The full-time stipend amount is $50,000 per year ($4,166. 66 per month), and three years of full-time support is available across all years of the grant ($150,000 total). The stipend should be prorated based on the number of months of support required from the fellowship within each grant year.

Cost of Education Allowance: The full-time Cost of Education Allowance amount is $25,000 per year, and three years of full-time support is available ($75,000 total). The Cost of Education Allowance must be prorated in alignment with the stipend. Indirect costs are not permitted on the Cost of Education Allowance.

The entire amount budgeted for the Cost of Education Allowance, including health insurance and other benefits required by the institution, must be categorized under the Tuition budget category (not under Personnel fringe). This ensures that SAM will automatically calculate accurate indirect costs. Research Funds: The research funds allowance may be budgeted in any grant year, regardless of the amount of stipend requested.

The amount of support requested for year one in this budget submission will be the final amount awarded for year one. If the amounts needed across future years change during the course of the award, a revised budget may be submitted (due by the start date of the future grant year). Check Application Progress: Click the Check Application Progress button to check for any missing required information or files.

All missing required information will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the application can be submitted. Send for Sign-off: When the application is complete, please click on the Send for Sign-off button to send to your Signing Official for signature. You will receive a notification when the application is signed.

Submit Application: When the full proposal application is complete and signed, please click on the Submit Application button. A confirmation page will appear once the application is successfully submitted. It will appear in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table.

Please note that you will not be able to submit an application if the deadline has passed. Acceptance Deadline (Finalists Only) Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only) August 1, September 1 or October 1, 2027 Monday – Friday, 9:00 a. m.

– 5:00 p. m. Eastern time May 22, 2026, May 25, 2026, and June 19, 2026 Letter of Intent (LOI) FAQ LOI stands for Letter of Intent.

For this program, the Letter of Intent is the fellowship application that the prospective fellow submits. If the fellow is selected as a finalist, a second stage application (“Full Application”) will be required in order to accept and activate the fellowship. Full Applications require sign-off from the host institution.

Do I need an institutional sign-off to submit an LOI? No. However, successful finalists will need an institutional sign-off for the full proposal. Can foreign institutions apply for this grant?

Fellowships may only be hosted by U.S. institutions on a campus within the U.S. There are no citizenship requirements for the fellows. Can I apply if I have already started a Ph. D.

program? If you are starting earlier than the summer term of 2026, you are not eligible to apply. Can I apply if my Ph.

D. program will not be in biology or a subfield of the life sciences? No. If the Ph.

D. program is in another field–even if your intended project relates to ecology and evolution–you are not eligible to apply. I am starting a master’s degree program this fall, or I am applying to master’s degree programs this fall, to begin next fall.

Am I eligible to apply? This funding cannot be used to solely pursue a master’s degree. However, if your university transitions their master’s students into Ph.

D. candidates, then this would be the year you would be eligible to apply. I am currently enrolled in a master’s degree program.

Am I eligible to apply? If you will be applying for a separate Ph. D.

program, at a different institution, you are eligible to apply. If you are applying for a Ph. D.

program at your current institution, you are only eligible if that program is unrelated to the program in which you are obtaining your master’s degree. The important point here is that to be eligible, you must be competing against all other candidates applying to this Ph. D.

program. I have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D. V.

M. or V. M.

D.) degree. Am I eligible to apply?