OVERVIEW: The Institute for Advanced Study awards residency fellowships to support outstanding researchers and scholars in the pursuit of independent research projects.
IP TAKE: The Institute for Advanced Study is one of the most prestigious research institutes in the world, and the exclusivity of its grants reflects that. It only awards around 200 fellowships each year out of thousands of applicants, and those grantees represent the cream of the world’s scholarly crop. IAS members and faculty share the distinction with names like Einstein, Oppenheimer, von Neumann, and dozens of other Nobel Laureates and Fields Medalists.
IAS is not the most transparent or accessible funder. The application process is not centralized, with each of its four schools running its program separately. The number and nature of postdocs, research fellowships, and visiting professorships also varies between the schools, making it a bit hard to navigate the process of finding the right grant to apply for. Furthermore, the institute does not appear to offer much assistance or resources for applicants. While many funders host information sessions and even one-on-one application support, with IAS it seems you’re on your own. Overall, this is a demanding, selective funder for scholars at the very top of their fields, not a reliable source of funding for the average researcher. To get on this funder’s radar, you will need to have a track record of conducting outstanding work for some time that has been widely acknowledged by equally well-known colleagues in your field.
PROFILE: The Institute for Advanced Study was established in 1930 by educator and education reform activist Abraham Flexner with a donation of $5 million from philanthropists Louis and Caroline Bamberger. Flexner’s vision was to create an academic environment where scholars and researchers could “enjoy complete intellectual liberty and be absolutely free from administrative responsibilities or concerns.” In 1932, the Institute opened its first department, the School of Mathematics, and added physicist Albert Einstein to its faculty, cementing its reputation as a destination for the world’s most elite scientists. It has since added three more departments – History, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences – boasting 35 Nobel Laureates and over 40 Fields Medalists among its current and former faculty. The Institute’s main avenue of funding is its Member program, which offers numerous fellowships for scholars of all levels in its four schools.
Grants for Science Research and Humanities Research
The Institute for Advanced Study accepts scholars, researchers, and scientists into its Membership program to pursue “work of significance and originality.” The Institute accepts approximately 200 members each year in total out of thousands of applicants, with each of the four schools, History, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, having its own application process, requirements, and deadlines. Each school offers several different fellowships with varying term lengths and eligibility requirements. These generally include post-doctoral fellowships for early-career scholars, research fellowships for mid- to late-career scholars, visiting professorships, and grants with terms ranging from half a year to several years. While most grants include funding, some are intended for established scholars on sabbatical who have sufficient financial support from their home institutions or independently.
Additionally, the Institute offers several Special Programs for young scholars and students, including:
- Program for Women and Mathematics: a program to “recruit and retain more women in mathematics” with courses and resources aimed at undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.
- Prospects in Theoretical Physics: an intensive two-week program for graduate students and postdocs considering a career in theoretical physics.
- Summer Program in Social Science: a two-year program fostering collaboration between scholars from Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America to “enrich and expand the realm of the social sciences through the confrontation of different intellectual traditions and perspectives.”
Important Grant Details:
For stipendiary grants, IAS generally seeks to fund approximately 50% of the applicant’s base salary, up to $80,000. Grantseekers may review the Institute’s database of All Scholars for more information on the types of research it supports.
- The Institute of Advanced Study places no restrictions on the citizenship of its applicants. The institute sponsors Exchange Visit visas for foreign scholars and their families.
- Applicants to the School of Mathematics may apply on Mathjobs.com. The institute accepts around 45 postdocs, 20 mid- to late-career researchers, and 20 Special Program grants based on an annual theme. The deadline for applications and all supplemental materials is December 1.
- The School of Natural Sciences offers a limited number of 3-year postdocs, 5-year memberships, half- and full-year visiting professorships, and short-term visitorships. Physics scholars may apply through AcademicJobsOnline.com, while Biology applicants must submit their materials to audrey@ias.edu. The deadline for applications and supplemental materials is November 15 for Physics. There is no deadline for Biology.
- The School of Social Science accepts around 20 members a year for full-academic-year Memberships. Around half are expected to pursue research related to the School’s annual theme, while the rest pursue independent research. The deadline for applications and supplemental materials is October 15.
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