IMU–Simons African Fellowship Program

The following criteria must be met by the applicant to be eligible for the program:

1. The applicant must hold a valid doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in mathematics.
2. The applicant must be based (place of work) in an African developing country.
3. The applicant must be employed as a mathematician in a faculty of a university or an equivalent higher education institution.
4. The applicant already has established contact with a mathematician in the host institution in a mathematical center of excellence and has a definite research plan together with the host. This must be submitted as part of the application.
5. The applicant has been granted an appropriate leave of absence from his/her home institution during the period of the visit.
6. The applicant must be formally invited by the host institution, through a written letter that clearly specifies the period of the research visit and the extent of the host institutions’ financial commitment and support to the applicant.
   Host institutions are expected to provide office space, free internet access, and other basic amenities. The host institution is also expected to help the applicant to find appropriate accommodation. In the event that no guest house or flat is available, the host institution has to issue a letter that accommodation is only possible in an economic hotel/apartment hotel with a kitchenette. The invitation must be signed by the dean/head of the faculty of the host institution (not the host).
7. The minimal length of a visit is one month. There is no maximal length, however this is a sabbatical/ research visit and not a fellowship position in the host institution (e.g. doing a post-doctoral).

Please note that the program is intended to support mathematicians for a limited research period and not for post-graduate courses or post-doctoral training.
The grant covers travel and basic living expenses of African mathematicians working in Africa (from a developing country, as defined by the IMU for all its schemes) during the sabbatical.

Complete and submit the online application form for the IMU – Simons African Fellowship Program.

A completed application form must include all of the following documents as one PDF Document:

• CV of applicant (max. 3 pages)
• CV of the host (max. 3 pages)
• Detailed research plan
• Statement from host expressing views on the visit and the research plan
• Invitation letter by the host institution
• Confirmation Letter by the home institution
• Tentative budget (in USD).

Only applications submitted and completed by the deadline can be considered for the program.
Applicants are advised to send in applications at least two weeks prior to the deadline, in case of missing information or documents.

The grant con covers only for the applicant up to 5,000 USD:

1. Travel costs
   • Flight costs (Economy)
     During the pandemic, grantees are asked to book the flights independently. The flight costs can be transferred prior to booking or reimbursed afterward as long as invoices are provided.
   • (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.
2. Visa fees
3. Travel insurance charges
4. 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). For a list, please go here. If the accommodation includes breakfast or any other meals, the daily amount will be reduced.
5. Accommodation cost in the host country (the hotel is allowed if the host provides a statement that no guesthouse or rented flat is available and max. 4 weeks. If you stay longer than 4 weeks you have to rent a suitable apartment or guesthouse). Receipts for cash payments for accommodation costs can not be accepted! You have to pay via a trackable transfer method.

All invoices for travel cost, visa, insurance, 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. 

Cash withdrawal receipts cannot be accepted!

If you travel during public holidays in the host country and while the host institution is closed for public holidays (e.g. during Christmas time) you cannot receive basic living costs during the period the institution is closed, but your accommodation cost can be paid. 

Please note that the grant does not cover any travel costs, accommodation, and living costs for requests for additional trips (e.g. to participate in conferences/ workshops) during this time. Those costs have to be covered by the grantee or his/her host institution. The living and accommodation cost only covers the research period. In case the grantees stay abroad for private or other purposes not related to the research visit neither living nor accommodation costs can be covered from the grant.

The grant is paid in two installments:

• First payment for accommodation in the host country, travel insurance, visa, transport to the airport, and 50% of the living cost before departure.
• Second payment for the remaining living costs after the visit.
• To receive the second payment the report, pictures, and all invoices must be sent to the IMU Secretariat before the second payment can be initiated.

The grantee must submit a detailed financial report with all invoices and boarding tickets to the IMU Secretariat (in original via postage) two weeks after the conclusion of the visit.