19/10/2020

The Serrapilheira Institute supports mathematicians with grants of up to R$700,000.

The Serrapilheira Institute will select up to 12 young scientists with original and bold projects that contribute to fundamental knowledge in mathematics, computer science, and natural sciences (life sciences, physics, chemistry, and geosciences). The support amounts range from R $ 200,000 to R $ 700,000 and are valid for 3 years. Applications will be open from November 16th to December 16th , and the complete call for proposals is already available .

The new call for proposals brings some important changes compared to previous ones. The support period has been extended, allowing scientists to develop their projects in the long term, with the freedom essential for cutting-edge research. The amount of support is now variable and will take into account the needs of each project – for example, whether they are more or less experimental.

The diversity bonus has also changed. Now, selected scientists can voluntarily compete for extra resources to be invested exclusively in the integration and training of people from underrepresented groups in their teams. The bonus amount will depend on the action to be developed and may vary from 10% to 100% of the support initially offered. The method for implementing the inclusion actions will be discussed with each selected scientist.

Another new feature is that each candidate may only submit a maximum of two proposals during the entire eligibility period. The goal is for the applicant to dedicate time and care to preparing an original and high-quality proposal. The limit of one proposal submission per call for proposals remains in effect.

The selection process now takes place in two phases. In the first, candidates submit a preliminary proposal, which will be evaluated by reviewers. From there, some will be invited to submit the complete proposal. The final stage includes an interview.

Candidates must have a permanent affiliation with a research institution in Brazil and have completed their doctorate between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018. This period is extended by up to two years for women with children.

“This is a moment that requires an even greater effort of coordination between different institutions, both public and private, to keep young scientists motivated and able to develop their projects,” says Cristina Caldas, Science Director at Serrapilheira. “Despite the unfavorable research funding conditions, we have witnessed at Serrapilheira, over the last three years, the career development of excellent young people, integrated into international knowledge networks and opening new perspectives for the advancement of scientific fields. This cannot stop.”

Since May of this year, the Director-General of IMPA, Marcelo Viana, has held the position of President of the Scientific Council , now called the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), and is also on the institute's Administrative Council. Vinicius Ramos, an IMPA researcher in the area of symplectic geometry, was one of those selected by the 1st Public Call for Support for Scientific Research of Serrapilheira, in 2017. Researcher Luna Lomonaco was also one of those awarded funding by the initiative in 2020, to continue the research "The Mandelbrot set and its copies."

Founded in 2017, the Serrapilheira Institute is the first private, non-profit institution dedicated to promoting science in Brazil. Its objective is to value scientific knowledge and increase its visibility, and to this end, it operates on two fronts: Science and Science Communication. In the field of Science, Serrapilheira identifies and supports excellent research by young scientists and promotes training and integration events. In the field of Science Communication, the institute maps and supports projects in different areas, in addition to suggesting strategies and proposing spaces for training and collaboration among Brazilian science communicators. Since its creation, Serrapilheira has invested R$ 30 million in science, supporting more than 120 research projects.