The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Simons Foundation.
- UCSC Contact: Samantha Forde | forde@ucsc.edu
- Funder: Simons Foundation
- Program: Pivot Fellowship
- Deadline: May 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. PT
Overview: The Simons Foundation invites applications for the Pivot Fellowship program, which supports researchers who have a strong track record of success and achievement in their current field, and a deep interest, curiosity and drive to make contributions to a new discipline. The fellowship will consist of one training year where the fellow will be embedded in a lab of a mentor to learn the new discipline and its culture. Mentorship and support are essential for learning a new discipline and culture. In addition to the qualifications and potential of the applicant, the suitability of the mentor and the environment for mentorship will be strongly considered in the application process.
Eligibility:
- Fellows and Mentors must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree in the natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Neuroscience and Physics), Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, or Computer Science
- Fellows must hold a faculty position at an academic institution
- Fellows must demonstrate that the fellowship will take place in a new discipline, distinct from their current field of study
- Fellows must be approved by their institution for a full year of leave
- Fellows must not hold any other fellowships that would provide them with salary support during the training year of the Pivot Fellowship
Funding:
- One year of salary support of the Fellow’s academic-year salary (9 or 12 months)
- $10,000 research, travel and professional development
- Mentors will receive a $50,000 research fund during the fellowship year
- Indirect costs are limited to 20% of the modified total direct costs (see grant policies)
- At the end of the fellowship year, fellows will be invited to apply for a research award in their new field for up to $1.5 million, including indirect costs, over five (5) years.
Timeline
- May 14, 2026 9:00 a.m. PT: Application deadline
- Fall 2026: Applicants notified
Special Instructions
Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). Please submit a proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s internal Institutional Deadlines. For support developing your proposal, please send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu).
Call sent: March 6, 2026
The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website: FR Calls for Funding.