Deadline: June 1, 2018
The International Mathematical Union (IMU) is now accepting applications for the IMU – Simons Travel Grant Program for Collaborative Research Aimed for African Mathematicians. The IMU – Simmons African Fellowship Program. The fellowship is funded by the Simons Foundation, NY, USA and 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.
The Simons Foundation is a private foundation based in New York City, incorporated in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons. 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.
The “IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program” will run for 5 years until September 2021.
- The program supports research sabbaticals for mathematicians from AFRICAN developing countries employed in AFRICA to travel to an Internationally known mathematical centre of excellence/ university (WORLDWIDE) for collaborative research.
- The program is not for any post graduate courses or post doctoral training but for a LIMITED RESEARCH PERIOD.
- The grant covers TRAVEL and BASIC LIVING COSTS of African mathematicians working in Africa (Specifically coming from a developing country, the definition of which is determined by the IMU for all its schemes) during the sabbatical.
Grant
The grant under this scheme will cover up to 5,000 USD:
- Travel costs
- from the place of work of the applicant to that of the host to the extent of economy class airfare. The flight will be booked and directly paid by the IMU Secretariat.
- (Public) transport (surface transport by rail or bus between the nearest city where the airport is located and the headquarters of the candidate or the city/town where the host institution is located, if necessary). Maximum four (4) Taxi fares (on submission of receipts) may be allowed to travel between the home and the airport/railway station (upon arrival and departure).
- In case the applicant has to stay in a hotel before departure or upon arrival, this needs to be mentioned in the budget details. Maximum one (1) night (both arrival and departure) can be paid from the grant.
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance charges
- Basic living cost (daily allowance based on living cost of the visiting country/city, This amount includes the cost for public transport and all other living costs).
- Accommodation cost in the host country (Only guest house of the institution or a rented flat. Hotels are allowed if the hosts provides a statement that no guesthouse or rented flat is available).
All invoices for travel cost, visa, insurance, public transport, 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 regular mail.
The grant is paid in two installments:
- First payment for flight, accommodation, travel insurance and visa before departure.
- Second payment for food, public transportation and transport to the airport after the visit based on all receipts.
- To receive the second payment the report, pictures and all invoices must be send to the IMU Secretariat before the second payment can be initiated.
Eligibility
- The applicant has to hold a valid doctoral degree (PhD) in mathematics.
- The African applicant must be based (place of work) in an African developing country for the list of eligible countries please click here.
- Countries whose Gross National Income per Capita (GNI) is less than 11000 USD are classified by IMU as “Developing Country”. For a list please go here.
- The applicant has to be employed as a mathematician in a faculty of a university or an equivalent higher education institution.
- The applicant should already have established contact with a mathematician in the host institution in mathematical centre of excellence worldwide and should have a definite research plan together with the host, which must be submitted along with the curriculum vitae of both mathematicians at the time of applying for this grant. This plan should be approved by the host as well.
- The applicant should have been granted appropriate leave of absence from his/her home institution which will cover the period of the visit.
- The application must also be accompanied by a formal letter of invitation from the host institution, which clearly specifies the period of the (short) research visit and the extent of the host institutions financial commitment and support.
- It is expected that the host institution would at least offer office space, free internet access and other basic amenities.
- The host institution also has to help the grantee to find accommodation in the institutions guest house or help to rent a flat. In case no guest house or flat is avaiable, the host institution has to issue a letter that accommodation is only possible in an economic hotel/ apartment hotel with kitchenette.
- The invitation has to be signed by the dean/ head of the faculty of the host institution (not the host).
- 7. The minimal length of a visit that could be favourably considered is one month. There is no maximal length, but it has to be a sabbatical/ research visit not a fellowship position in the host institution (e.g. doing a post-doctoral).
Application
2018 deadlines
- February 1, 2018 (Decisions will be made by March 30, 2018)
- June 1, 2018 (Decisions will be made by July 30, 2018)
- October 1, 2018 (Decisions will be made by November 30, 2018)
In order to apply please take the following steps:
- Please fill out and submit the online application form for the IMU-Simons Programs.
- Then send the application with all requested documents (two CVs: of the host and the applicant, detailed Research plan, invitation letter by the host institution, letter by the home institution, tentative budget details in USD as one joint pdf document plus a picture of the applicant to CDC Grants via email: [email protected].
- Please submit the completed bank information form which they need IN CASE you are selected for a grant.
The application form can be found here.
For more information, visit IMU–Simons African Fellowship.
