Symplectic and Contact Geometry and Topology
August 17, 2009 - May 21, 2010
Organized By: Y. Eliashberg, J. Etnyre, E. Ionel, D. McDuff, and P. Seidel

Tropical Geometry
August 17, 2009 - December 18, 2009
Organized By: Eva-Maria Feichtner, Ilia Itenberg, Grigory Mikhalkin, Bernd Sturmfels

Homology Theories of Knots and Links
January 11, 2010 – May 21, 2010
Organized By: D. Bar-Natan, M. Khovanov, P. S. Ozsváth, L. Rozansky, and Z. Szabó

Complementary Program (for applicants in other areas of mathematics)

MSRI uses MathJobs to process applications for its positions. Interested candidates must apply online at www.MathJobs.Org. At the MathJobs website, you will first create a login and fill out a Standard AMS Cover Sheet. Then you will be able to access all of the 11 MSRI application forms, one for each position in each program. The process is explained at the MathJobs website; here we provide a brief summary.

Each application has a supplementary list of questions, some relating to the particular position for which you are applying, and others being optional demographic questions, to which we encourage you to respond. MSRI uses this information for reporting purposes only; it is made available to us as aggregate statistical data, and not as part of your individual application.

On these pages you will be able to submit a CV and the names of people identified to submit letters of support. It is the applicant’s responsibility to inform those people how to submit their letters, and to insure that they are submitted before the application deadline. You will also be asked to submit a one page Statement of Purpose, describing your research goals and the particular relevance of the MSRI program to those goals.

Important Note on Visa Status: If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, your visa status may severely limit or even eliminate the possibility of MSRI providing compensation or reimbursement for your expenses, as well as restricting the length of time that you can visit MSRI. You should therefore carefully indicate your visa status on your MathJobs application and investigate its terms. Questions may be addressed to Jackie Blue.

Additional questions about these positions or programs can be directed to applications@msri.org.

Membership Types

MSRI has three appointment categories available to applicants:

Research Professors

Application Deadline: October 1, 2008

MSRI considers a limited number of applications for research professorships at the November meeting of its Scientific Advisory Committee. These positions are reserved for distinguished researchers who will be making key contributions to their programs including the mentoring of postdoctoral fellows, who require some salary support, and whose participation should be confirmed early. Normally, research professorships will be awarded to candidates who plan to be in residency for three or more months. At its November meeting, the Scientific Advisory Committee will review for approval a small number of Research Professor candidates, usually 6-10 per semester program, proposed by the program organizers.

Support: Research Professors can receive partial salary compensation at a pay rate of up to $5,000/month prorated for the duration of residency during the scheduled dates of the program. Members who receive salary support for an extended visit normally are granted a travel allowance for one round-trip from their home institution. Research Professors are automatically eligible for consideration for appointment as Simons Professors or Eisenbud Professors. Nominations for these special professorships are made by the organizing committees of the programs; no separate application is necessary.

Application process: The application is to be completed online at the MathJobs website. Please read the instructions there before completing the form. Be sure to specify the program to which you are applying on MathJobs, and be careful to indicate the extent of support needed in the application form. Candidates must upload several support documents and arrange for those writing recommendations to upload their letters of recommendation. All applicants should have two letters of support, which may be supplied by the program’s organizing committee. To receive full consideration, it is important that all application materials, including letters of support, are in place at the MathJobs website by October 1, 2008.

Research professorship offers will be announced by the end of November 2008. Applicants who are not offered a Research Professor appointment are automatically considered for research membership in January. MSRI asks applicants' consideration in not phoning or emailing the Institute regarding the status of their applications before March 2009.

Research Members

MSRI considers applications for research memberships during the January meeting of its Scientific Advisory Committee. It is expected that Research Members will visit MSRI with full or partial support from other sources. Applicants for research membership who require some living or travel support should indicate that in the MathJobs application. Candidates for research membership will be recommended by the program organizers for approval by the MSRI directorate, with decisions announced in February.

Support: Research memberships may be offered with no support, with a travel allowance and/or with per diem support. Research memberships are normally not offered for stays of less than one month, and preference will be given to those who can attend for longer periods. Research Members who receive support for an extended visit normally are granted a travel allowance for one round-trip from their home institution. The per diem level is currently $80 per day for stays of one month or more; and up to $120 per day for short stays. Members can receive per diem support only during their dates of residency while the program is in session.

Some research membership appointments are made each year in areas other than those of the disciplinary programs, so applications from candidates in all fields are welcome. Such individuals should indicate that they are applying to the Complementary Program on the MathJobs application form and carefully describe how a visit to MSRI will impact their research program.

Members who receive an award of support should hold a Ph.D. at the time of their proposed residency; financial support is not available for graduate students. Some preference is given to U.S. applicants.

Application Process: The application is to be completed online at the MathJobs website. Please read the instructions there before completing the form. Be sure to specify the program to which you are applying on MathJobs, and be careful to indicate the extent of support needed in the application form. Candidates must upload several support documents and arrange for those writing recommendations to upload their letters of recommendation. All applicants must have two letters of support; one of which may be from a member of the program’s organizing committee. To receive full consideration, it is essential that all application materials, including letters of support, are in place at the MathJobs website by December 1, 2008.

Research membership offers will be announced during February 2009. MSRI asks applicants' consideration in not phoning or emailing the Institute regarding the status of their applications before March 2009.

Postdoctoral Fellows

For 2009-10, MSRI will appoint Postdoctoral Fellows to the one semester and academic year programs. Fellowship applications are reviewed by program organizers and the MSRI directorate, who recommend finalists to the Scientific Advisory Committee for approval at its January meeting. Awards are announced in early February.

Support: These awards provide support for five months for one-semester programs. For the 2009-10 academic year program, some academic year appointments may be made by combining two one-semester positions. MSRI expects Postdoctoral Fellows to be in residence for the entire period of their fellowship while their program is in session. The fellowship stipend is currently $4,500 per month, with a travel subsidy for one round-trip from your current institution, and a research travel budget of $600 for one semester ($1000 for the full academic year). Health insurance is also provided.

One postdoctoral fellowship award may be made in an area outside of the disciplinary programs, so applicants from candidates in all fields with a specific scientific interest in being at MSRI are welcome. Such individuals should indicate that they are applying to the Complementary Program on the MathJobs application form, and carefully describe the purpose of their residency at MSRI, including identification of a nearby senior mentor (who should also write a letter of support).

In addition, the Viterbi Family Foundation endows two semester-long postdoctoral fellowships. There is no need to apply separately for these positions which carry a monthly stipend of $5,000 per month and a research travel budget of $1,000 for one semester ($1,500 for the full academic year). Awards will be made competitively, from nominees submitted by the organizing committees of the programs.

Note: Applicants who currently hold or expect to be awarded NSF postdoctoral fellowships for 2009-10 should be aware that the NSF places compensation restrictions on its fellowship holders. Additional information is available on the NSF website or by contacting the Deputy Director at MSRI.

Postdoctoral fellowships are intended for mathematicians with Ph.D.s awarded in 2004 or later. Postdoctoral Fellows must hold a Ph.D. at the time of their proposed residency; financial support is not available for graduate students. Some preference is given to U.S. applicants.

Application Process: The application is to be completed online at the MathJobs website. Please read the instructions there before completing the form. Be sure to specify the program to which you are applying on MathJobs. The application must address these issues: the scientific basis of a postdoctoral fellowship at MSRI, the duration of the fellowship sought, and what other support is anticipated for the year. (Note that some agencies, such as the NSF, have limitations on compensation that can be received in addition to their fellowship stipends.) The "Statement of Purpose" is a critical document that must state clearly and specifically the relationship between the applicant's interests and the scientific objectives of the program. A generic statement of plans for future research will not suffice. Candidates must upload several support documents and arrange for those writing recommendations to upload their letters of recommendation. To receive full consideration, it is essential that all application materials, including letters of support, are in place at the MathJobs website by December 1, 2008.

Awards will be announced in early February 2009. MSRI asks applicants' consideration in not phoning or emailing the Institute regarding the status of their applications before March 2009.

The Institute is committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.