Simons Investigators in the Mathematical Modeling of Living Systems (MMLS)

Internal Proposal Deadline – 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2016

WHAT:  Mathematical model based approaches are making increasingly important contributions to the life sciences. The Mathematical Modeling of Living Systems (MMLS) program aims to support such approaches and to foster a scientific culture of theory-experiment collaboration similar to that prevailing in the physical sciences. To encourage young researchers to pursue this endeavor, MMLS will provide a long-term stable base of support, enabling a focus on model-based approaches to important issues in the life sciences.  An Investigator will receive research support in an amount initially set at $100,000 per year. An additional $10,000 per year will be provided to the Investigator’s department with 20 percent in indirect costs to the institution.

PROGRAM EMPHASIS: Investigators in MMLS are outstanding scientists, often with mathematics or theoretical physics backgrounds, now engaged in research based on mathematical modeling in the life sciences.   A broad spectrum of research areas within the life sciences will be considered, ranging from cellular-level issues of organization, regulation, signaling, and morphogenic dynamics to the properties of organisms and ecology, as well as neuroscience and evolution; however, preference will be given to areas in which modeling approaches are less established and, for this reason, bioinformatics- and genomics-related proposals fall outside the scope of the program. In all cases, preference will be given to work that relates closely to experiment, developing mathematical models that can explain data, suggest new classes of experiments, and introduce important new concepts.

WHO: The following eligibility terms apply:

• Candidates should have a background in mathematics or theoretical physics, now engaged in MMLS related research.
• Candidates must be in an assistant professor position.
  • Candidates must have started their first faculty position after October 31, 2008.
• Former Simons Investigators are not eligible.

WHEN: Internal deadline – 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2016
              Sponsor deadline – October 31, 2016

HOW: The internal proposal must be completed by the nominator with the following five parts.  All documents should be single-spaced, no smaller than 10-point font, with minimum ½ inch margins.

1. Cover page with the following:
   1. Nominee’s name, title and department
   2. Nominator’s name, department and contact information
2. Nomination Letter: Written and signed by the nominator (a relevant university official, for example, a department chair or dean) explaining the distinctive scientific contributions of the nominee, focusing on scientific accomplishments of the past five years and including discussion of a few important papers (two-page limit).
3. Letter of Support: Letters from two senior scientists who could be the nominee’s Ph.D. and postdoc advisors or other scientists familiar with the nominee’s recent work and research goals. The letters should be signed and indicate the nominee’s most significant research accomplishments and provide insight into the nominee’s research program and likely future scientific trajectory. (two-page limit for each).
4. Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae: The nominee’s curriculum vitae, including Ph.D. year, institution, advisor, postdoctoral institutions and advisors, positions held subsequent to award of doctorate and the nominee’s up-to-date publication list.
5. Research Statement: Prepared by the nominee that outlines the nominee’s research vision and plans. (Two-page limit; references and figures do not need to be included in the page limit but should not exceed an additional page.)

Please combine all five parts of the internal nomination in a single PDF file and email to [email protected] by 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. The subject heading of the email should be "Simons MMLS".

For additional information, please contact: Greg Culler at [email protected] or 212-854-6285.