Open Call: Simons Foundation – Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution

May 6, 2026 | Awards & Funding, Faculty

To: Science Faculty
From: Office of Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundations Relations is pleased to share this open call for Letters of Interest  from the Simons Foundation.  

 

Overview: The Simons Foundation will provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs with a plan to perform research in ecology and evolution. While the foundation will consider all projects in ecology and evolution, they are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research that jointly considers processes on both ecological and evolutionary timescales, or that links studies of ecology and evolution to other STEM fields, including physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry and other areas of biology, especially genetics.

Please see FAQs here. 

 

Eligibility:

  • Applicants must be entering or applying for Ph.D. programs in biology or a subfield of the life sciences during summer or fall 2026, with matriculation to start no later than October 1, 2027.
  • Holding a master’s degree is permitted, and a degree in physics, mathematics, computer science or engineering is encouraged. 
  • The fellow must maintain enrollment at the host institution throughout the award.
  • There are no citizenship requirements. 

 

 Funding: 

  • Maximum of three years of financial support usable over a five-year fellowship period. 
  • $265,800, including indirect costs. 
  • Awards will begin August 1, 2027; September 1, 2027; or October 1, 2027.

 

Timeline

  • June 30, 20265 LOI Deadline
  • October 30, 2026 LOI Notification
  • May 27, 2027 Full Proposal Deadline (Finalists Only)
  • July 1, 2027 Award Notification

 

Special Instructions

Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your proposal, please send a request to the Office of Research Development, resdev@ucsc.edu. Within the Division of Social Sciences, please contact Ashlee Tews (ashleeac@ucsc.edu).

 

Call sent: May 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.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact forde@ucsc.edu
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