program Description

AMS-Simons Research Enhancement Grants for Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) Faculty

With generous funding from the Simons Foundation; the American Mathematical Society (AMS); and Eve, Kirsten, Lenore, and Ada of the Menger family, the AMS is pleased to offer research enhancement grants for mathematicians employed full-time at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), i.e., institutions that do not confer doctoral degrees in mathematics. We strongly encourage and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The AMS is committed to selecting at least 40 researchers per year from PUIs that reflect the mathematics community as a whole. 

Eligibility

Mathematicians with an active research program employed full-time in tenured or tenure-track positions at PUIs in the United States are eligible to apply. For the purpose of this program, PUI institutions are those that do not confer doctoral degrees in mathematics. Additionally, to be eligible, applicants must have earned a PhD degree at least five years before the start of the grant. For the 2026 application cycle, that is prior to August 1, 2021.

The applicant's research must be in a disciplinary research area supported by the Division of Mathematical Sciences of the National Science Foundation (NSF). Faculty with appointments solely in statistics departments are not eligible. The intended awardees will not concurrently hold external research funding exceeding $3,000 per year and will not be in residence at a National Science Foundation institute. Additionally, no more than two applicants will be awarded from the same institution each application cycle. 

Grantees' institutions are required to administer the grants on behalf of the AMS, unless the grantee is attending ICM in 2026, in which case the AMS will administer grant year 1 (see below). The grant offer will be rescinded if a grantee's institution declines to administer the grant.

Priority will be given to applicants who intend to attend the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) in Philadelphia, PA from July 23-30, 2026. 

Funding 

Successful applicants who intend to use grant year 1 funds to attend ICM 2026: Eligible expenses related to ICM 2026 attendance (e.g., registration fee, plane ticket) will be reimbursable even if they are incurred prior to the grant start date. In grant year 1 only, $600 will be provided to department with the goal of building on the momentum of the ICM by establishing honoraria, research projects or other activities stemming from collaborations forged at the ICM. 

At the end of grant years 2 and 3, the grantee's institution will receive $600 in discretionary funds for administrative costs. No additional institutional overhead or indirect costs will be covered with these award funds.

Successful applicants who do not use grant year 1 funds to attend ICM 2026: Each year for three years, awardees will receive $3,000 to support research-related activities. At the end of each grant year, the grantee's institution will receive $600 in discretionary funds for administrative costs. No additional institutional overhead or indirect costs will be covered with these award funds.

Timeline

Applications will be accepted January 5, 2026 - February 9, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST) with institutional verification due by February 11, 2026 (11:59 p.m. EST). In the institutional verification prompt, a representative from the applicant's office of sponsored programs (or equivalent) will be prompted to indicate the institution's willingness to administer the grant if the applicant is successful and continues to be employed at the institution. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate preparation of their applications with their institution representative. Applicants should submit their applications in a timely manner to ensure that their institution representative has sufficient time to complete the verification by the deadline.  

Applicants will be notified of their status in late May 2026. 

Successful applicants who intend to use grant year 1 funds to attend ICM 2026: Grant year 1 will begin July 1, 2026, and will be administered by the AMS. Successful grantees are not required to spend the entire $3,000 on ICM activities, and may use the funds for other approved purposes. Grant years 2 and 3 will run September 1 - August 30 and must be administered by the grantee's institution. 

Successful applicants who do not use grant year 1 funds to attend ICM 2026: The AMS-Simons PUI grant year is September 1 - August 30 for all three years. Grant year 1 funds will be disbursed in August or September 2026.

For all institution-administered grants, faculty grantees should adhere to their institution's internal processes for expending grant funds and obtaining reimbursements. 

1. MathPrograms Application. The application will ask for background information related to grant eligibility, as well as a proposed budget. Please note that your personal information, such as contact information, will be received through your Coversheet in MathPrograms, and that you are expected to review and update all Coversheet information before submitting your application. 

2. Cover Letter. In this cover letter (up to one page) you will describe how you expect the award to have an impact on your research and on your development as a mathematician. The cover letter should include information on factors affecting research productivity, such as teaching loads, significant institutional or departmental duties, and features of your student population and type of institution. You may also wish to address any special circumstances not addressed elsewhere in the application, including but not limited to career interruptions.