Simons Foundation 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program: $600,000 Research Grant and Postdoctoral Funding for Early-Career Scientists

The Simons Foundation 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program is a research funding and career development opportunity designed to help talented early-career scientists transition from mentored research positions into independent, tenure-track faculty careers. Offered through the Simons Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division, the program provides substantial financial support, mentorship, and professional development to researchers preparing to establish their own laboratories and pursue independent scientific careers.

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program is particularly relevant to scientists working in areas connected to autism research, neuroscience, brain plasticity, aging, and ecological neuroscience. Through this initiative, the Simons Foundation aims to support promising researchers as they move toward faculty appointments, strengthen their research independence, and contribute to scientific discovery in fields aligned with the foundation’s research priorities.

For the 2027 award cycle, selected fellows will receive a commitment for a three-year faculty research grant worth $600,000, alongside up to two years of postdoctoral support while they are on the academic job market. Recipients will also benefit from mentorship, professional development opportunities, and access to a network of investigators.

The application deadline is January 13, 2027. An informational webinar is also scheduled for October 21, 2026, providing prospective applicants with an opportunity to learn more about the program.

Scientists interested in transitioning into tenure-track faculty positions should carefully review the eligibility requirements, research priorities, funding structure, and application instructions before submitting their applications.

About the Simons Foundation

The Simons Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports scientific research and initiatives intended to advance understanding of the natural world. Its funding activities include research in mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, neuroscience, and related fields.

The foundation supports researchers through grants, collaborations, and programs that encourage scientific discovery and strengthen research communities.

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program is offered through the foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience division. Its purpose is to support talented researchers during a critical stage of their careers: the transition from mentored research training to independent faculty positions.

Moving from a postdoctoral or other mentored research appointment into a tenure-track faculty role can present significant challenges. Researchers must develop an independent scientific vision, secure institutional appointments, establish laboratories, and obtain the resources necessary to pursue their research programs.

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program is designed to help address these challenges by combining financial support with mentorship and professional development.

By investing in early-career scientists, the program seeks to nurture new research talent and expand the community of investigators contributing to the basic science missions of the foundation’s neuroscience initiatives.

 

Overview of the Simons Foundation Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program 2027

The following table summarizes the principal details of the 2027 award opportunity.

Opportunity detail	Information
Program name	2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program
Funding organization	Simons Foundation
Administering division	Autism & Neuroscience
Opportunity type	Research grant, postdoctoral support, mentorship, and career development
Target applicants	Early-career scientists in mentored research training positions
Required qualifications	Ph.D. and/or M.D.
Career objective	Transition into tenure-track faculty positions
Faculty research funding	Three-year commitment of $600,000
Additional support	Up to two years of postdoctoral support while on the job market
Other benefits	Mentorship, professional development, and access to an investigator network
Research alignment	SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE
Application deadline	January 13, 2027
Informational webinar	October 21, 2026, 1:00–2:15 p.m. EDT
Application method	Online application

Benefits of the Simons Foundation Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program offers several forms of support intended to help early-career scientists establish independent research careers.

1. Three-year faculty research grant worth $600,000

One of the program’s most significant benefits is a commitment for a three-year faculty research grant totaling $600,000.

This funding is intended to support recipients as they transition into independent faculty positions and begin developing their own research programs.

Establishing an independent laboratory requires resources for scientific research, including the development of research activities and the practical implementation of a scientist’s long-term research vision. A substantial research grant can help recipients move from working within another investigator’s research program toward leading their own scientific projects.

The award is designed to support research aligned with the mission of the relevant Simons Foundation initiatives. Applicants should therefore develop a clear scientific vision that demonstrates how their proposed independent laboratory will contribute to the foundation’s research priorities.

The published announcement describes the grant as a three-year commitment. Applicants should consult the official program guidelines for the detailed funding terms, eligible expenses, and conditions attached to the award.

2. Up to two years of postdoctoral support

The program also provides up to two years of postdoctoral support while fellows are on the academic job market.

This component is intended to help researchers during the transition between mentored research training and securing faculty appointments.

The academic job market can require researchers to balance ongoing scientific work with applications, interviews, presentations, and the development of independent research proposals. Continued postdoctoral support can provide additional time for fellows to pursue their scientific work while seeking suitable faculty positions.

The program’s support is particularly relevant to researchers who are preparing to establish independent laboratories and need time to identify appropriate institutional opportunities.

Applicants should review the official guidelines to understand how the postdoctoral support is structured and the conditions governing its availability.

3. Mentorship from experienced researchers

Mentorship is another important component of the Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program.

Transitioning into an independent scientific career involves more than demonstrating research ability. Early-career scientists must also learn how to develop a sustainable research agenda, build collaborations, navigate academic institutions, and position their work for long-term impact.

Through mentorship, fellows can receive guidance as they prepare for faculty appointments and develop their independent scientific identities.

Mentorship can be particularly valuable when researchers are deciding how to distinguish their proposed laboratory’s research direction from the work they conducted during their earlier training.

4. Professional development opportunities

The program includes professional development intended to help fellows prepare for the responsibilities associated with independent academic careers.

These responsibilities may include managing research projects, communicating scientific findings, building research teams, developing collaborations, and planning future research directions.

The award’s career development component complements its financial support by helping fellows prepare for the broader responsibilities of faculty life.

5. Access to a network of investigators

Recipients also gain access to a network of investigators connected to the program and its scientific priorities.

Research networks can facilitate scientific exchange, professional relationships, and opportunities to learn from researchers working on related questions.

For early-career scientists, connections with an established research community can be particularly helpful as they move toward independence and establish their own laboratories.

Eligibility Criteria for the 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program

Applicants should carefully assess their qualifications and research interests before applying. The program is intended for a specific career stage, and meeting the degree requirement alone does not establish eligibility.

1. Academic qualifications

Applicants must have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree.

These qualifications reflect the program’s focus on scientists who have completed advanced research or medical training and are preparing to transition into independent faculty careers.

Prospective applicants should consult the official application guidelines for any additional requirements concerning degree completion dates, current appointments, or the timing of their training.

2. Current research position

The program is designed for early-career scientists who are currently in mentored research training positions.

This generally refers to researchers who are developing their scientific expertise under the guidance of established investigators rather than already operating fully independent laboratories.

The program is intended to support the transition from mentored research into independent, tenure-track faculty positions.

Applicants should verify that their current appointment and career stage meet the detailed eligibility requirements in the official call for applications.

3. Plans to pursue a faculty appointment

Applicants should plan to pursue faculty appointments in the coming academic year.

The award is intended to help researchers move into tenure-track faculty positions and establish independent research programs. It is therefore not simply a general postdoctoral fellowship or a grant for researchers seeking to remain indefinitely in mentored training.

Candidates should be prepared to explain their faculty career plans and demonstrate how the award would support their transition toward independence.

4. A strong independent scientific vision

Applicants must present a scientific vision for their future independent laboratory.

This vision should identify the research questions they intend to investigate and explain how their work will contribute to the scientific priorities of the relevant Simons Foundation initiatives.

A competitive application should clearly communicate the importance of the proposed research, its relationship to the relevant research mission, and the applicant’s potential to develop an independent scientific program.

Applicants should also consider how their previous research experience has prepared them to lead the proposed work.

5. Alignment with the foundation’s research priorities

The proposed independent research program must align with at least one of the following initiatives:

• Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI).
• Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB).
• Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE).

Each initiative has its own scientific mission and research focus. Applicants should study the relevant initiative’s official website before deciding whether their proposed research is an appropriate fit.

The announcement specifically notes that this is the final request for applications for the SCPAB Fellows-to-Faculty program. Researchers whose work aligns with SCPAB should pay particular attention to this announcement and its deadline.

6. Eligible countries and nationalities

The supplied announcement does not specify a comprehensive list of eligible countries or nationalities.

Prospective applicants should not assume that every country is eligible or that nationality alone determines eligibility. Researchers applying from outside the United States should consult the official application guidelines for any applicable restrictions relating to citizenship, residency, institutional affiliation, or appointment location.

The detailed rules published by the Simons Foundation should be treated as authoritative when determining eligibility.

7. Career-stage suitability

The program is designed for talented early-career scientists who are approaching the transition to independent academic research.

Applicants should assess whether the timing of their career, their current research appointment, and their plans for a faculty position match the program’s objectives.

Researchers who are already established independent faculty members may not fit the intended target group. Similarly, candidates who are not currently in mentored research training positions should review the official eligibility criteria before investing time in an application.

Research Areas Supported by the Program

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program supports independent scientific research aligned with three specified initiatives. Understanding these initiatives is essential when preparing a strong application.

1. Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)

The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative supports scientific research aimed at advancing understanding of autism.

Researchers whose proposed work aligns with SFARI should review the initiative’s current scientific priorities and funding information to determine whether their planned laboratory program is appropriate.

Relevant applicants should be able to explain how their independent scientific vision fits the initiative’s mission and contributes to its basic science objectives.

2. Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB)

The Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain focuses on scientific questions connected to brain plasticity and aging.

Applicants whose research aligns with this collaboration should examine its scientific goals and determine how their proposed independent research program would contribute to those goals.

The 2027 announcement identifies this cycle as the final request for applications for the SCPAB Fellows-to-Faculty program. Researchers interested in this area should therefore review the application information carefully and ensure that they meet the requirements before the deadline.

 

3. Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE)

The Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience supports scientific research in ecological neuroscience.

Candidates whose work falls within this area should review the collaboration’s mission and research priorities to assess the suitability of their proposed laboratory program.

Applicants should explain the scientific questions they want to investigate and how their proposed work aligns with the initiative’s objectives.

 

How to Prepare a Competitive Application

The program is designed to support researchers who are ready to develop independent scientific careers. Applicants should therefore prepare an application that communicates their research vision, career plans, and alignment with the foundation’s priorities.

Step 1: Review the official program announcement

Begin by reading the official Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program page.

Review the eligibility requirements, application instructions, funding conditions, and any additional documents requested for the 2027 cycle.

 

Step 2: Identify the appropriate research initiative

Determine whether your proposed research aligns with SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE.

Read the relevant initiative’s official information and ensure that your research plans fit its scientific mission.

Applicants should avoid submitting a generic description of their interests without explaining the connection between their research and the selected initiative.

Step 3: Develop your independent research vision

Prepare a clear description of the research program you intend to lead as a faculty member.

Consider the scientific questions you want to answer, why they matter, and how the proposed work would contribute to the relevant field.

Your research vision should communicate independence and explain how your future laboratory will develop its own scientific direction.

Step 4: Review the faculty career timeline

Because the award is designed to support the transition to tenure-track faculty positions, applicants should carefully consider their plans for the coming academic year.

Review the official requirements concerning the academic job market, the timing of faculty appointments, and the relationship between the award and the establishment of an independent laboratory.

Step 5: Consult the application guidelines

Review the official application portal and identify all required materials.

The supplied announcement does not provide a complete list of application documents, so applicants should not rely on assumptions about the exact materials required. Follow the current instructions provided by the Simons Foundation.

Step 6: Attend the informational webinar

Prospective applicants can also register for the program’s informational webinar, scheduled for October 21, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

The webinar provides an opportunity to learn more about the opportunity and clarify questions about the award.

 

Step 7: Submit your application before the deadline

Complete the application according to the instructions in the official portal.

The deadline is January 13, 2027. Applicants should aim to submit early enough to resolve any technical problems or outstanding requirements.

 

Important Dates and Deadlines

Applicants should take note of the following dates for the 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program.

Event	Date
Program announcement published	October 13, 2026
Informational webinar	October 21, 2026
Webinar time	1:00–2:15 p.m. EDT
Application deadline	January 13, 2027

Application deadline: January 13, 2027.

Applications must be submitted according to the official program instructions. Prospective applicants should check the application portal for any additional dates, submission requirements, and updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Simons Foundation Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program?

It is a funding and career development initiative designed to help talented early-career scientists transition from mentored research positions into tenure-track faculty appointments and independent research careers.

How much funding does the program provide?

Selected fellows receive a commitment for a three-year faculty research grant totaling $600,000, together with up to two years of postdoctoral support while they are on the academic job market.

Who is eligible to apply?

The announcement identifies scientists with Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees who are currently in mentored research training positions and plan to pursue faculty appointments in the coming academic year. Applicants must also present a scientific vision aligned with SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE.

The full official eligibility requirements should be consulted before applying.

Can international researchers apply?

The supplied announcement does not provide a definitive list of eligible countries or nationalities. International researchers should review the official application guidelines to confirm whether they qualify.

Does the program support all scientific fields?

No. The proposed independent laboratory must align with the mission of SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE. Applicants should review these initiatives to determine whether their research is an appropriate fit.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is January 13, 2027.

When is the informational webinar?

The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. EDT.

The Simons Foundation 2027 Fellows-to-Faculty Award Program offers an important opportunity for early-career scientists seeking to transition into independent research and tenure-track faculty positions. With a three-year faculty research grant commitment of $600,000, up to two years of postdoctoral support, mentorship, and professional development, the program is designed to help promising researchers establish their own laboratories and advance scientific discovery.

Researchers with Ph.D. and/or M.D. degrees who are currently in mentored research training positions should carefully assess their eligibility and ensure that their independent scientific vision aligns with SFARI, SCPAB, or SCENE. The program’s focus on career transition makes it particularly relevant to scientists preparing to enter the academic job market and lead independent research programs.

The application deadline is January 13, 2027, and the informational webinar takes place on October 21, 2026. Interested candidates should consult the official program guidelines, prepare their applications carefully, and submit all required materials before the deadline.

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