Simons Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Second Class of Pivot Fellows

The Simons Foundation is now accepting applications for its second class of Pivot Fellowships. The program provides funding for today’s brightest minds to apply their talent and expertise to a new field in mathematics or the natural sciences.

Fellows will receive support for one year of training in their new field under a mentor, followed by the opportunity to apply for up to five years of research funding in the new discipline. Successful applicants will have a strong track record of success and achievement in their current field, and a deep interest, curiosity and drive to contribute to a new discipline.

The recipients of last year’s fellowships included an astrophysicist applying her machine-learning expertise to modeling Earth, an engineer taking on mathematical gauge theory and a theoretical high-energy physicist transitioning to physical oceanography.

The program is open to faculty in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, data science and computer science at academic institutions or equivalent positions elsewhere. The fellowships provide salary support as well as research, travel and professional development funding. In addition, mentors will receive a $50,000 research fund. At the end of the fellowship year, fellows will be invited to apply for a 3-year research award in the new field for up to $1.5 million over the 3-year period.

The deadline for submissions is May 15. For more information and to apply, visit the program’s web page.