Commission for
Developing
Countries

CDC

IMU-Simons Research Fellowship Program for Developing Countries

The IMU-Simons Research Fellowship Program for Developing Countries (2024-2027) supports mathematicians from developing countries to travel to a mathematical institution for collaborative research for up to three months. The research visit has to be tied to a specific research project and a collaborating institute.

The program, spanning three years starting from April 15, 2024, is tailored for mathematicians holding a doctoral degree (PhD) in mathematics and holding a permanent position in a university faculty or similar institution within a developing country.

Fellows are granted the flexibility to embark on research visits lasting from one to three months, with longer durations strongly encouraged. Funding is allocated to cover expenses for a maximum duration of 3 months incurred during the visit, including airfare to the host country, accommodation, local living expenses, and other pertinent costs.

It's important to note that while the grant amount may vary, partial grants below USD15,000 may be awarded based on the merits of the application.

This program does not support travel costs related to conferences, summer schools, workshops, celebrations, or jubilees.

 

 

Note: If you are a young mathematician under the age of 35, you may wish to consider the IMU-CDC's Abel Visiting Scholar Program. The AVSP is similar to the Simons Research Fellowship but is tailored for young mathematicians.

Upcoming Deadlines

  • October 1st, 2024 for research visits starting between February 15th, 2025 and February 15th, 2026 (Decisions will be made by November 15th, 2024*)
  • January 15th, 2025 for research visits starting between June 1st, 2025 and June 1st, 2026 (Decisions will be made by March 1st, 2025*)
  • April 15th, 2025 for research visits starting between August 15th, 2025 and August 15th, 2026 (Decisions will be made by June 15th, 2025*)
  • July 15th, 2025 for research visits starting between December 1st, 2025 and December 1st, 2026 (Decisions will be made by September 15th, 2025*)

If your application is not completed by the deadline, it cannot be considered for evaluation.

*If decision dates fall on a weekend or public holiday, decisions will be made on the following working day.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

  1. hold a PhD in Mathematics;
  2. be based (place of work) in a developing country. Please refer to CDC's list of developing countries here;
  3. be employed as a faculty member of a university or an equivalent institution;
  4. have already established contact with a mathematician in the host institution and have a definite research plan at the time of applying for the grant;
  5. be granted appropriate leave of absence from his/her institution for the period of visit;
  6. visit for at least a period of one month.

Application

Applications must include the following information:

  1. Curriculum Vitae (CV) of both the applicant and the host professor. It must include a selected list of publications. (Max. 3 pages)
  2. Detailed research plan covering expected interaction with local mathematicians and PhD Students, general objectives and aims of the visit, and schedule of research visit (including planned lectures/ meetings with colleagues etc.
  3. Statement from host expressing views on the visit and the research plan
  4. Invitation letter by the host institution which clearly specifies the period of the visit as well as the extent of its financial commitment and support. It is expected that the host institution would at least offer office space, free Internet access and other basic amenities. A template invitation letter can be found here. The invitation has to come from the dean of the faculty for the host institution.
  5. Confirmation letter by the home institution which clearly specifies the employment status of the grantee and that the applicant will be granted appropriate leave of absence from his/her home institution which will cover the period of the visit. A template can be found here.
  6. Tentative budget presented in USD. Any additional support secured by the applicant from other institutions must be declared in the application.

 

Grant Application Page

Grant Details

  1. The awarded amount ranges between USD5,000 - USD15,000
  2. The grant can only cover the following costs for up to a maximum duration of three months:
  • Airfare (economy class) to host country
  • Visa fees
  • Health Travel insurance
  • Daily Allowance (based on living cost of the visiting country/city according to the IMU-CDC List)
  • Accommodation cost in the host country (hotel is allowed for a maximum of 4 weeks if the host provides a statement that no guesthouse or rented flat is available. For stays longer than 4 weeks, only apartment or guesthouses can be accepted).
  • Airport transfers (Maximum of 4 taxi transfers between place of stay and airport for purpose of research visit upon arrival and departure)
  • Child support*

*Child support is provided solely to grantees who serve as the primary caregivers for accompanying children and lack alternative childcare arrangements during their research visit. If another family member is traveling with them, the child support can only be given in exceptional cases. In the application it has has to be mentioned if the researcher is planning to travel alone with the child or with another family member/relative.

Child support includes:

  • Maximum USD1,500 for airfare of child (economy class)
  • USD100 monthly child allowance
  • Childcare services (subject to submission of an official invoice from the service provider/ institution) max. USD 400 monthly.

Please note that the grant does not cover any travel costs, accommodation and living costs for requests for any additional trips (e.g. to participate in conferences/ workshops) during the period of research visit! Should grantees plan to attend additional trips during the visit, costs on these days (such as the daily allowance) will not be reimbursed.

The grant is disbursed in two installments:

  • First payment for flight tickets, visa fees, travel insurance, and accommodation and 50% of living costs. (Maximum 80% of the awarded grant)
  • Second payment: remaining expenses after the visit and after submitting the final report.

To receive the second payment the report, pictures and copies of all relevant invoices and receipts must be sent to the IMU Secretariat. The grantee must submit a detailed financial and activity report and with all invoices and boarding tickets to the IMU Secretariat (via email) four weeks after the conclusion of the visit.

Daily Allowance List

Selection Committee

The Grant Selection Committee (GSC) consists of the CDC Secretary for Grants Selection as Chair and has six other members, three from CDC and three others, each representing Latin America, Africa and Asia respectively.

Note

  1. Applicants for this program cannot simultaneously apply for the Abel Visiting Scholar program.
  2. Applicants currently holding a grant for research visits from the IMU-CDC cannot apply for this program until their activity has concluded. 
  3. Successful applicants cannot reapply for the program within the same year.
  4. In case of cancellation of the research visit, all reimbursed costs must be returned to the IMU-CDC.
  5. Receipt of the Simons Research Fellowship grant is subject to the IMU's ability to legally transfer funds to the grantee's personal bank account.

IMU-Simons Research Fellowship Recipients

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