The Simons HBCU Faculty Fellowship 2027 is a research funding initiative designed to support early-career faculty members at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States.
Meanwhile, funded by Simons Foundation International and administered by the Simons Foundation, the programme aims to strengthen scientific research, increase research productivity, and create more opportunities for students to participate in advanced scientific work. It focuses on mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and ecology and evolutionary biology.
About the Simons HBCU Faculty Fellowship 2027
The fellowship addresses a major challenge many university researchers face: heavy teaching responsibilities that leave little time for research. Through this programme, participating institutions can provide selected faculty members with protected research time by reducing their teaching responsibilities by at least 50%. The initiative also encourages faculty to publish research, apply for external grants, mentor students, and develop independent research programmes.
| Programme detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States |
| Funding organisation | Simons Foundation International |
| Administering organisation | Simons Foundation |
| Eligible fields | Mathematics, neuroscience, physics, ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Funding | Up to $320,000 per year per institutional award |
| Duration | 1-5 years of teaching buyout; awards are planned for 2027-2032 |
| Letter of intent deadline | November 12, 2026, at noon Eastern Time |
Benefits of the Simons Foundation Fellowship
Here are the benefits that applicants tend to access if they are eligible and accepted;
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Protected research time through a minimum 50% reduction in teaching responsibilities.
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Funding for eligible personnel and research-related expenses.
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Support for research assistants and postdoctoral researchers.
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Funding for research supplies, equipment, publications, travel, and conference registration.
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Opportunities to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
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Support for developing independent research programmes and pursuing future external grants.
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Opportunities to strengthen research collaborations and scientific output.
Simons Foundation Fellowship Eligibility Criteria
Listed below are the eligibility criteria that applications must meet to be eligible;
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Applications must be submitted by eligible, accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the United States.
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Participating institutions may nominate up to four junior tenure-track faculty members across the eligible research fields.
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Nominees must hold, or be formally offered, a junior tenure-track position at the nominating institution when the full application is submitted.
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Faculty members should have at least one relevant peer-reviewed publication or other clear evidence of an active research programme.
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Each nominee must have a senior faculty mentor.
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Institutions must commit to providing the required teaching reduction and protecting the released time for research.
How to Apply for the Simons Foundation Fellowship
The steps below will help you apply for the fellowship programme if you have met the eligibility criteria;
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Visit the official Simons Foundation fellowship page and review the application instructions.
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Have an authorised senior institutional representative serve as the Primary Award Contact.
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Prepare the institutional information, proposed research fields, faculty profiles, mentoring arrangements, and student engagement plan.
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Submit the letter of intent through the Simons Award Manager by the stated deadline.
- If invited, complete the full application and submit all required supporting documents before the full application deadline.
Official Website
Apply and read the official Simons HBCU Faculty Fellowship guidelines
Simons HBCU Faculty Fellowship 2027 Deadline
The letter of intent deadline is November 12, 2026, at 12 noon Eastern Time. Selected institutions will be notified about full applications on December 17, 2026. The full application deadline is February 9, 2027, at 12 noon Eastern Time.
FAQs
Is the fellowship fully funded?
The programme provides substantial institutional funding, but the money is administered through eligible HBCUs for the approved fellowship and research expenses rather than as a personal scholarship.
Can undergraduate students apply directly?
No, the programme is designed for eligible institutions to nominate junior tenure-track faculty members.
Which research fields are supported?
Mathematics, neuroscience, physics, and ecology and evolutionary biology.
When will the awards begin?
The planned award start date is September 1, 2027.
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