PROOF

PROOF (Promoting Research Opportunities and Open Forums) is a two-week summer program designed to provide research opportunities for U.S.-based mathematicians, statisticians, and their collaborators in the U.S. and abroad, whose ongoing research may have been impacted by factors such as heavy teaching loads, professional isolation, limited access to funding, heavy administrative duties, personal obligations, or other constraints. The program welcomes in-person participation from faculty and advanced graduate students at all U.S. colleges and universities. It aligns with SLMath’s broader goal to open doors to mathematics by creating environments where researchers from a wide range of institutional settings can thrive, pursue projects, and reach their full academic/scientific potential. Apply via MathPrograms starting Sept. 1, 2025   Eligibility Groups of two to five mathematicians with partial results on an established project may submit an application to the program. Each member must have a PhD or advanced graduate standing; at least 60% of the group members must be in the mathematical or statistical sciences. At least 50% of the team members must be U.S.-based. All members of the group must be in residence for the full visit (two weeks). Applicants may apply as a member of only one research group. The 2-week visit to SLMath must take place between June 8, 2026 to July 31, 2026. Application Process Applications will open on September 1st on MathPrograms and require a Project Description, a statement on alignment with the program goals, as well as additional information. The priority application deadline is October 12, 2025. The Project Description should not exceed four pages, should be aimed at a broad mathematical audience, and must contain the following: A brief history of the collaboration The broader mathematical context and motivation for the research area The context, description, goals, and impact of the specific research problems to be addressed The partial results already obtained A timeline for the project, including which parts are suitable for before, during and after the residence at SLMath The Alignment Statement should not exceed two pages. It should carefully describe how the proposed group and collaboration align with the program’s goals: to support research and collaboration for small groups of researchers (majoritarily U.S.-based) whose work has been especially affected by factors such as heavy teaching loads, professional isolation, limited access to funding, heavy administrative duties, personal obligations, or other constraints. The statement should also explain how participation in PROOF will support their research and contribute to their professional development. In addition to the Project Description and Alignment Statement the following information is required: A list of all members on the research team, including home institution and location, email address, citizenship, year of PhD, and current position Current teaching load for each participant. List members, if any, who had to delay promotion timelines and if so for how long List members, if any, who have participated in previous summer programs at SLMath (formerly MSRI), and if so, what programs and when A biographical sketch (following NSF format) of no more than three pages for each of the team members Preferred dates of the visit A list of Mathematics Subject Classification Codes (primary and secondary) A list of keywords On generative AI: Please disclose any significant use of AI in writing this application. Be aware that applications are evaluated on their scientific merit and on alignment with program goals. A succinct description of applicants' personal alignment with program goals will be highly valued, while generic (AI) writing will not. Selection Process In choosing the groups, preference will be given to teams made up of a majority of US citizens and Permanent Residents, teams whose members come from a variety of institutions, teams made up of members at various stages of their careers, teams with a strong alignment with the program’s goals, and proposals related to core/fundamental mathematics and its applications. Funding The following support is provided: Lodging in spacious and comfortable dorm apartments on the campus of UC Berkeley All meals Reimbursement of travel expenses to Berkeley To allow visitors to fully participate in its scientific activities, SLMath offers Childcare Grants to researchers with children age 17 and under Pending availability, mathematicians who are spouses or partners of invited group members will be offered shared office space For more information, please contact coord@slmath.org.   PROOF Sponsors Funding to support PROOF 2026 is provided by the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).