Simons Early Career Investigator in Aquatic Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards

This program was titled “Early Career Investigator in Marine Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards” from 2015-2022.

The Simons Foundation’s Life Sciences division is now accepting applications for its Simons Early Career Investigator in Aquatic Microbial Ecology and Evolution Awards. The deadline for receipt of letters of intent (LOI) is January 23, 2025, 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern time.

Overview

Microbes inhabit and sustain all habitats on Earth. In both marine and freshwater systems, microbes capture solar energy, catalyze biogeochemical transformations of important elements, produce and consume greenhouse gases, and provide the base of the food web.

The purpose of these awards is to help launch the careers of outstanding investigators in the fields of microbial ecology, microbial biogeochemistry and/or microbial evolution in marine or natural freshwater systems, who will advance our understanding through field work, experiments, modeling or theory. Investigators must currently be active in basic research addressing fundamental questions in these fields and must focus a large fraction of their lab’s effort in one of these areas. Applicants whose research focuses on the microbiomes of animals or plants, symbioses of microbes with animals, coral biology, paleoceanography, geobiology or aquatic pollution will not be considered.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree. They must currently hold a tenure-track, tenured or, for institutions with no tenure track, an equivalent independent position in an institution in the U.S. or Canada (in a campus within these countries) and have carried out research in such a position starting no earlier than November 2020 and no later than July 2024. Federal government employees are not eligible.

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.

About the Awards

Grants will be for $270,000 USD per year, including indirect costs (limited to 20 percent of modified total direct costs), for a period of two years, subject to annual reviews and continuation of research in areas relevant to the purpose of this program. Appropriate expenses include salary support for the investigator and laboratory research staff, travel, equipment, supplies and other research expenses. Allowable indirect costs to the primary institution for subcontracts are not included in the $270,000 budget threshold (see grant policies). Awards will begin July 1, 2025. Please see our grant policies for further guidelines.

Submission of Letter of Intent

Prospective applicants must submit a letter of intent (LOI) by January 23, 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.

The following information must be submitted:

1. Biosketch (a SciENcv or fillable PDF NSF- or NIH-style format).
2. List of all (not selected) publications with the complete reference (up to 10 authors; if greater than 10, give the number of authors and list the senior author) and with asterisks marking members of your lab.
3. List of past, current and pending other support, including names of PI and co-PIs and total award amount to your lab.
4. Letter of Intent Narrative, which must include:
   1. Most important publication. Describe the significance of your most important publication during the last five years and your contribution to the work reported in the paper (250 words). Provide the complete reference for this publication (up to 10 authors; if greater than 10, give the number of authors and list the senior author).
   2. Research statement (one page). Describe your long-term research vision. What is/are the important question(s) that you are addressing? What is unique about your program?
   3. Research project (two pages, excluding references and up to three figures). Outline a plan for a specific project to provide an example of your approaches and thinking. Provide a title for the project. The award will be for general career support, not support for this specific project.
5. Two letters of recommendation from former mentors or other scientists, preferably not from your current institution, who work in your field and are familiar with your research. Confidential letters must be submitted through SAM by January 23, 2025, 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern time.

Please refer to the How to Apply tab for our grant policies and further instructions.

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations The Simons Foundation, Inc. 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.

Review Process

The review process will include evaluations by experts in the field, who will make recommendations to the Simons Foundation Life Sciences staff. Finalists selected for submission of a full application will be announced by April 1, 2025. All finalists will receive an award pending a complete full application.

Full applications will require submission of a budget and brief budget justification, renewable reagents and data-sharing plan, and signature indicating institutional approval by May 1, 2025. Applicants will be notified of decisions by June 1, 2025.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to grantmaking that inspires and supports greater diversity and inclusiveness by cultivating a funding environment that ensures representation of all identities and differences and equitable access to information and resources for all applicants and grantees.

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. We also fund programs directed at supporting scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, often working closely with professional societies and other funding agencies.