The Pivot Fellowship from the Simons Foundation seeks to support researchers who demonstrate a strong record of achievement in their current field and show a keen interest in making contributions to a new discipline. The program encourages individuals to bring knowledge and insight from one field to another, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. This fellowship offers a one-year training period where the fellow will work closely with a mentor in a lab, immersing themselves in the new discipline and its practices.
Eligibility:
- Fellows and mentors must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree in natural sciences (astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, neuroscience and physics), engineering, mathematics, data science, or computer science, along with all sub-disciplines therein.
- Fellows must be faculty at an academic institution or hold an equivalent position.
- Fellows must demonstrate that the fellowship will take place in a new discipline distinct from their current field of study.
- Fellows must not hold any other fellowship providing salary support during the training year of the Pivot Fellowship.
Funding:
- The fellowship provides one year of salary support equivalent to the fellow’s academic-year salary.
- Fellows also receive a 10,000 USD research, travel, and professional development allowance during the fellowship training year.
- Mentors receive a 50,000 USD research fund during the fellowship year, which may be used for various research expenses.
At the end of the fellowship year, fellows are eligible to apply for a research award in their new field for up to $1.5 million (plus indirect costs) over five years.
The applications close on May 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time.