Ecology and Evolution

Supports research into the genetic, ecological and evolutionary factors that shape the dynamics of organisms and their communities.

A monarch butterfly with black and orange wings rests on a pale orange zinnia flower, collecting nectar. The background is blurred green, highlighting the butterfly and flower.
Sue Zellers

About

Biological entities do not exist in isolation. They are enmeshed in a network of ever-shifting biotic interactions dictated by their environment. This ecological context determines the success of individual organisms, their functional roles in ecosystems and how they evolve. Recent findings show that evolutionary change can occur within just a few generations, enabling insights into how genetics drives functional biology, ecology and evolutionary biology. The Simons Foundation seeks to encourage research that generates fundamental understanding of the genetic, ecological and evolutionary factors that shape the dynamics of organisms and their communities.

Programs

Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution

These awards will provide support for students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs with plans to conduct research in ecology and evolution. We are particularly interested in interdisciplinary research that jointly considers processes on both ecological and evolutionary timescales, or that links studies of ecology and evolution to other STEM fields, including physics, computer science, mathematics, chemistry and other areas of biology, especially genetics.

Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution Faculty Mentors

Funding Opportunities

Under Review

Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution – 2027 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

Supports students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs in ecology and evolution, with particular interest in interdisciplinary research spanning ecological and evolutionary timescales and other STEM fields.

Under Review

Simons Collaborations in Ecology and Evolution – 2027 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

Simons Collaborations bring together investigators across disciplines to tackle timely, important scientific problems and foster the exchange of ideas that can lead to breakthroughs.

Closed

Simons Graduate Fellowships in Ecology and Evolution – 2026 Request for Applications

Funding Opportunity

Supports students entering U.S.-based Ph.D. programs in ecology and evolution, with particular interest in interdisciplinary research spanning ecological and evolutionary timescales and other STEM fields.

News

Honey bees flying away from a flower.

Simons Foundation Accepting Applications for Simons Collaborations in Ecology and Evolution

Other Research Areas