The IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program supports research sabbaticals for mathematicians from African developing countries employed in Africa to travel to an internationally known mathematical center of excellence (worldwide) for collaborative research. All travel and living expenses of the grantees will be covered by the fellowship up to 5,000 USD.
This program is funded by the Simons Foundation, NY, USA, a private foundation based in New York City, incorporated in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, and will run until 31.08.2022.
The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. They sponsor a range of programs in the sciences, including grants programs in mathematics and the physical sciences. The primary focus of the foundation’s Mathematics and Physical Sciences division is the theoretical sciences radiating from mathematics: in particular, the fields of mathematics, theoretical computer science and theoretical physics.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, costs incurred from COVID-19 tests, quarantines, as well as COVID-19 vaccines can be covered by the CDC upon request.
The following criteria must be met by the applicant to be eligible for the program:
Please note that the program is intended to support mathematicians for a limited research period and not for post graduate courses or post doctoral training.
The grant covers travel and basic living expenses of African mathematicians working in Africa (from a developing country, as defined by the IMU for all its schemes) during the sabbatical.
The online application form for the IMU-Simons Program must be completed and submitted together with the documents listed below.
A completed application form must include all of the following documents as one PDF Document:
Only applications submitted and completed by the respective deadlines can be considered for the program.
Applicants are advised to send in applications at least two weeks prior to the deadline, in case of missing information or documents.
The grant con cover only the following costs for the applicant up to 5,000 USD:
All invoices for travel cost, visa, insurance, accommodation and up to four taxi receipts and all boarding tickets have to be kept by the grantee and be sent (original) to the CDC/ IMU Secretariat by post.
If you travel during public holidays in the host country and while the host institution is closed for public holidays (e.g. during Christmas time) you cannot received basic living cost during the period the institution is closed, but your accommodation cost can be paid.
Please note that the grant does not cover any travel costs, accommodation and living costs for requests for additional trips (e.g. to participate in conferences/ workshops) during this time. Those costs have to be covered by the grantee or his/her host institution. The living and accommodation cost only cover the research period. In case the grantees stays abroad for private or other purposes not related to the research visit neither living or accommodation cost can be covered from the grant.
The grant is paid in two installments:
The grantee must submit a detailed financial report with all invoices and boarding tickets to the IMU Secretariat (in original via postage) two weeks after the conclusion of the visit. Failure to do so will forfeit the second payment.
The applicants will be screened by the Grant Selection Committee (GSC) consisting 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.
Please note that in order to access the online application form, you must first create an account.
You may create an account on the account registration page. You will be able to access the online form once you log into your account.
Online Application Form Tentative Budget Form
Grant Reporting Form Daily Allowance List
In case of any question regarding the program, please contact the IMU Secretariat via e-mail cdc.grants@mathunion.org