Fields Research Exchange Program

Fields Research Exchange Program (FREP)

Looking to have a unique opportunity to travel that will enhance your research experience? Listed below are international opportunities available to members of the Fields Institute and of its Principal Sponsoring Universities (PSUs) or Partner Institutions to do research in superlative research environments in a manner consistent with the Fields Institute mission. Deadlines for applications are February 15, June 15, and October 15 of each year.

The objective is to encourage collaborative research by offsetting mobility expenses of research visits and to facilitate and promote international academic visits between the participating sites.

fFor example, researchers from Partner Institutions will have the opportunity to further their research experience by participating in a Fields Thematic or Focus Program and/or by planning a research visit at the Fields Institute or at a PSU. Likewise, researchers from Fields or PSUs will be able to spend time at a Partner Institution for research purposes. These visits may last from one to four months, but longer periods may be arranged by mutual agreement of the partners.

Application forms are posted below with each Partner Institution.

If you have any questions about FREP, please contact Bryan Eelhart.

Europe

Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

Read the news release here.

The Fields Institute and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) engage in cooperative activities with the purpose of stimulating mathematical sciences research and outreach, enhancing the mission of both organizations.

1. TENURED OR TENURE-TRACK RESEARCHERS

Tenured or tenure-track researchers associated with Fields and CNRS Labs will be invited to visit the other institution for mutually agreed periods. Researchers may be affiliated with a CNRS Lab or at any of Fields' Principal Sponsoring Universities (PSUs) and the host institute be any PSU or CNRS Lab.

Researchers from CNRS Labs will be eligible to hold a Fields Research Fellowship http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/honours-and-fellowships/fields-research-fellowships to support their periods of residence at Fields. This program will also encourage participation by researchers from CNRS labs in Fields Institute Thematic Programs.

2. EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS

Postdoctoral and other early career researchers at Fields Institute PSUs and CNRS Labs can spend periods of one or more months at the other institution to broaden their range of experience. In each case a personal "mentor" will be appointed at the host location.

Postdoctoral fellows and other early career researchers will have, as their home institution, one of the Fields Institute's PSUs or a CNRS lab. The home institution, supervisor or mentor of the researcher will be responsible for travel costs.

3. RESEARCH STUDENTS

PhD students from a CNRS lab or one of the Fields Institute's PSUs can spend periods of between one month and one year at the other institution. Fields will facilitate the opportunities for PhD students from France to participate in intensive workshops and to audit graduate courses at one of our PSUs. The home institution (the PSUs in the case of Fields, the CNRS labs in the case of CNRS) of the PhD student will be responsible for travel costs.

Please check again soon for details on how to apply for these exchanges.

Fondation mathématique Jacques-Hadamard (FMJH)

Read the news release here.

The Fields Institute and the Fondation Mathématique Jacques Hadamard at the Université Paris-Saclay (UPSaclay) engage in cooperative activities with the purpose of stimulating mathematical sciences research and outreach, enhancing the mission of both organizations.

Research exchanges between researchers affiliated with each organization (Fields Institute and its Principal Sponsoring Universities and the FMJH member laboratories). These exchanges are available to four different groups:

1. RESEARCH STUDENTS

Research students at FMJH’s member laboratories or at one of the Fields Institute’s Principal Sponsoring Universities (PSUs) can spend periods of between one and four months at the other institution. For an exchange of more than two months, an approved joint supervisor at the host institution will be appointed for the period of the exchange.

The student’s home institution will be responsible for travel costs. Accommodation and living expenses in the host country will be shared by arrangement between the home and host institutions.

2. VISITS FOR JUNIOR RESEARCHERS

Postdoctoral and other early career researchers at one of the Fields Institute’s PSUs or at FMJH’s member laboratories can spend periods of one or more months at the other institution, in order to broaden their range of experience. In each case a personal "mentor" will be appointed at the host location.

The home institution of the researcher will be responsible for travel costs. Living expenses and accommodation expenses in the host country are to be shared on a mutually agreed basis, pending approval by each institution involved.

3. UNDERGRADUATES

Undergraduate students from UPSaclay and other universities in France are encouraged to apply for participation in the annual two-month Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Program (FUSRP) which runs from mid-June to mid-August each year at various locations in Ontario. The Fields Institute will reserve up to five (5) places in this program for competitive awards to French students, which will cover travel and living expenses in Canada for all successful applicants.

4. SENIOR RESEARCHERS

Senior researchers associated with the Fields Institute’s PSUs and FMJH member laboratories may nominate collaborators for research visits to their institution for mutually agreed periods of residence, typically one to three months. Living expenses for the visiting researcher will be covered through programs at the host institution. For example, senior faculty from FMJH member laboratories will be eligible to hold a Fields Research Fellowship http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/honours-and-fellowships/fields-research-fellowships.

This program will also encourage participation by researchers from FMJH labs in Fields Institute Thematic Programs.

Details on the application process will be available soon.

Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris (FSMP)

Read the news release here.

The Fields Institute and the Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris organize cooperative activities with the purpose of promoting mathematical sciences research and outreach, enhancing the mission of both organizations.

Research exchanges between researchers affiliated with each organization (Fields Institute and its Principal Sponsoring Universities and the FSMP member laboratories). These exchanges are available to four different groups:

1. PhD STUDENTS

Research students at FSMP's member laboratories or at Fields Institute’s Principal Sponsoring Universities (PSUs) can spend periods of between one and four months at the other institution. For an exchange of more than two months, an approved joint supervisor at the host institution will be appointed for the period of the exchange.

For visitors from FSMP labs, these exchanges must fall within the scope of the “doctoral student stays” program: https://www.sciencesmaths-paris.fr/sejours-doctorants. In particular, only doctoral students from the FSMP network will be eligible for funding to go to member universities of the Fields Institute.

For visitors from Fields Institute PSUs, the PSU will be responsible for continuing to fund the student through an eligible stipend. The Fields Institute will be responsible for reimbursement of travel expenses, and will provide an allowance for living expenses, both according to the usual Fields Institute expense reimbursement guidelines.

2. JUNIOR RESEARCHERS

Postdoctoral and other early career researchers at Fields Institute PSUs and FSMP member laboratories can spend periods of one or more months at the other institution, in order to broaden their range of experience. In each case a host researcher will be appointed as a mentor at the host location.

The host researcher will apply for funding from their home institution to cover travel and living expenses for the guest.

Exchanges to FSMP must fall within the scope of the FSMP’s “Invited Professors” program: https://www.sciencesmaths-paris.fr/en/nos-programmes-en/fsmp-distinguished-professor- fellowship. In particular, only junior researchers from member universities of the Fields Institute can be funded to join the FSMP network. The host researcher will submit an application to their organization (FSMP) to cover their guest's living expenses.

Exchanges to Fields Institute PSUs can occur through:

Application to a Fields major thematic or focus program.
Through the Fields Research Fellowship program: http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/honours-and-fellowships/fields-research-fellowships in which the visiting researcher’s home institution continues to provide a salary to the visiting researcher, while Fields will cover travel and living expenses according to the usual Fields Institute expense reimbursement guidelines.

3. SENIOR RESEARCHERS

Senior researchers associated with Fields and FSMP may nominate collaborators to be invited for research visits to their institution for mutually agreed periods of residence, typically one to three months.

The host researcher will apply for funding from their home institution to cover travel and living expenses for the guest.

Exchanges to FSMP must fall within the scope of the FSMP’s “Invited Professors” program: https://www.sciencesmaths-paris.fr/en/nos-programmes-en/fsmp-distinguished-professor- fellowship. In particular, only senior researchers from Fields Institute PSUs can be funded to join the FSMP network. The host researcher will submit an application to their organization (FSMP) to cover their guest's living expenses.

Exchanges to Fields Institute and its PSUs can occur through:

Application to a Fields major Thematic or Focus program.
Through the Fields Research Fellowship program: http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/honours-and-fellowships/fields-research-fellowships in which the visiting researcher’s home institution continues to provide a salary to the visiting researcher, while Fields will cover travel and living expenses according to the usual Fields Institute expense reimbursement guidelines.

Asia

Institute for Advanced Research (IAR), Shandong University

National Centre for Theoretical Sciences (NCTS)

How To Apply

Elligibility

These opportunities are open to Ph.D. and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty (including both established and early-career researchers) at the Fields Institute, Principal Sponsoring Universities, or the international partner institutions listed below. In addition, undergraduate students can apply to participate in the Fields Undergraduate Research Program. Acceptance is dependent on many factors, including, but not limited to, the availability of funds

Application Process

1. Select a host institution:

a) a Partner Institution, or

b) the Fields Institute or a Principal Sponsoring University

2. Identify an individual who may be willing to be your collaborator/supervisor at the host institution.

3. If you have identified and contacted a potential collaborator/supervisor and they have agreed to host your visit, secure a Letter of Invitation.

4. Access the application (linked under each partner institution, above) and complete the online form, including the required materials outlined below.

Required Application Materials

Current CV
Statement of Purpose, including:

the overall goal, specific aims, and rationale of the applicant's project or research question
the purpose, and expected learning outcome(s) of the research experience, including how the visit will:

help meet the applicant's future research/academic/career goals
fit the applicant's past and intended future professional experiences

Specifics of the proposed visit abroad, including the name(s) of the proposed collaborator(s)/supervisor(s)
Name and city of the host institute
Start/end dates of the proposed visit
Funding letter from supervisor, if the applicant is a student or a postdoctoral fellow and his/her travel expenses are being paid from the supervisor's grant
Letter of Invitation. If an individual has been identified as a potential collaborator/supervisor and has agreed to host the visit, please provide a letter from them, including:

Confirmation that Fields or the PSU posesses and will provide the infrastructure, resources, guidance, and expertise necessary to support the applicant's visit
The start/end dates of the proposed visit
A brief description of the applicant's responsibilities and the tasks they will be performing while acknowledging an understanding of their research or learning goals
A brief description of the applicant's responsibilities and the tasks they will be performing while acknowledging an understanding of their research or learning goals

Acknowledgement of Consent and Release from Liability for the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences (included in the online application)

Acknowledging Fields Support

If you’ve received funding from the Fields Institute, we want you to share this news. An acknowledgement of our support is a testament to the calibre of your work, and helps us demonstrate the value of mathematics research to the scientific community, funding agencies, and the general public. Acknowledgement guidelines can be found here.

The Fields Institute for
Research in Mathematical Sciences

Fields Research Exchange Program