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Quick answer: The Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), founded in 1982 as the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), is an independent non-profit research center located in Berkeley, California. Supported by a major grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF DMS Award 2424139) and substantial philanthropic endowments from the Simons Foundation and other donors, SLMath hosts semester-long thematic programs, month-long AxIOM cohorts, introductory workshops, and postdoctoral fellowships across all fields of mathematics.
What it is
The Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) operates as one of the world’s preeminent hubs for collaborative mathematical research. Established in 1982 by mathematicians Shiing-Shen Chern, Calvin Moore, and I. M. Singer, the institute operated for four decades under its founding name, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI). In 2022, following landmark unrestricted gifts from Jim and Marilyn Simons and Dwight and Virginia Laufer, the institute was rededicated under its current name while maintaining its original legal entity and scientific mission.
SLMath gathers more than 1,700 visiting mathematical scientists annually at its facility, Shiing-Shen Chern Hall, situated in the hills overlooking the University of California, Berkeley. The institute does not have a permanent research faculty; instead, it provides intensive residential environments where rotating cohorts of senior researchers, mid-career faculty, and postdoctoral fellows collaborate on focused, semester-long mathematical themes.
Who runs it and what it covers
SLMath is governed as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization administered by a Board of Trustees and led by an executive Directorate. The Institute Director is mathematician Tatiana Toro, who also serves as Principal Investigator for the institute’s primary cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. Scientific governance is led by the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which reviews, selects, and schedules all scientific programs 18 to 36 months in advance.
Core funding is provided through NSF Award 2424139 (“SLMath: Opening Doors to Mathematics”, obligating $10,040,000 for the period 2025–2030 through the Division of Mathematical Sciences). This federal core is augmented by income from institute endowments, academic sponsor institutions, and philanthropic foundations.
SLMath’s scientific activities encompass several major program tracks:
- Semester-Long Programs: Twin thematic research semesters running concurrently each autumn and spring, focusing on specialized subfields such as Representation Theory, Motivic Homotopy Theory, Tropical Geometry, or Geometric Measure Theory.
- AxIOM Programs: Month-long intensive research cohorts (Advancing Connections in Oriented Mathematics) designed to bring together agile, high-impact collaborations.
- Topical Workshops: Introductory and specialized five-day conferences held in conjunction with semester programs or dedicated to independent breakthrough developments.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships: Highly competitive residential appointments offering mentored research, reduced teaching obligations, and full travel and housing stipends.
- Summer Graduate Schools: Two-week instructional workshops held in Berkeley and partner institutions worldwide, introducing graduate students to advanced research areas.
- MSRI-UP (Undergraduate Program): A comprehensive summer research program (REU) designed to cultivate undergraduate mathematical research talent.
- Colloquia and Public Lectures: Broad-audience lectures and congressional briefings fostering the public understanding of mathematical sciences.
How to search or use it
Researchers participate in SLMath through structured application pathways for residential membership, workshop attendance, or program leadership. The standard workflow comprises the following steps:
- Explore Program Schedules: Visit the official SLMath Programs portal (
slmath.org/programs) to inspect scheduled semester programs and workshops, which are announced several years in advance. - Identify Membership Categories: Review eligibility for distinct appointment tracks, including Research Professor (for senior faculty), Research Member (for mid-career scholars and visiting faculty), and Postdoctoral Fellow (for recent PhD recipients).
- Submit Applications via MathPrograms.org: Access the centralized academic employment and fellowship portal MathPrograms.org during the annual application window (typically closing December 1 for fellowships commencing the following academic year).
- Upload Application Dossier: Provide a curriculum vitae, publication record, comprehensive research statement aligned with the target semester theme, and three letters of recommendation for postdoctoral candidates.
- Request Lodging and Family Support: Admitted researchers utilize SLMath’s dedicated Housing Office (
housing.slmath.org) to secure local accommodations in Berkeley and apply for family services and childcare support subsidies. - Propose Future Programs (RFP): Mathematicians wishing to organize a new semester program or topical workshop submit formal letters of intent and program proposals through SLMath’s Request for Proposals mechanism for SAC review.
- Access the Free Video Archive: Scholars worldwide can search, view, and download thousands of recorded lectures, conference talks, and seminar presentations hosted in the open SLMath Video Archive without subscription paywalls.
Strengths and limits
SLMath maintains distinct structural strengths alongside natural institutional limits:
- Collaborative Environment: Blackboards throughout Shiing-Shen Chern Hall, mandatory daily tea, and dedicated office suites encourage cross-pollination between disparate mathematical fields.
- Substantial Postdoctoral Support: Junior researchers receive dedicated senior mentorship, networking opportunities, and integration into global research networks.
- Broad Open Access: The institute’s open digital library of recorded lectures democratizes access to cutting-edge mathematics for researchers without travel funding.
- Competitive Selection: Due to physical capacity limits in Chern Hall, acceptance rates for fully funded semester memberships and postdoctoral slots are highly selective.
- Non-Permanent Appointments: Because SLMath operates on a visiting model, researchers must secure academic leave or sabbatical support from their home institutions.
Alternatives
SLMath is one of several major mathematical research institutes operating under the NSF Mathematical Sciences Institutes umbrella and international private foundations:
| Institute | Location | Core Operational Model | Primary Sponsoring Body |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLMath (formerly MSRI) | Berkeley, California | Semester thematic programs, AxIOM, postdocs | NSF DMS Award 2424139, Simons Foundation |
| ICERM | Providence, Rhode Island (Brown University) | Computational and experimental mathematics | NSF DMS Award 2424556, Brown University |
| IPAM | Los Angeles, California (UCLA) | Mathematics applied to physical sciences and tech | NSF DMS, UCLA |
| AIM (American Institute of Mathematics) | Pasadena, California | Collaborative SQuaREs and focused workshops | NSF DMS, private foundations |
| IAS School of Mathematics | Princeton, New Jersey | Long-term theoretical research fellowships | Institute endowment, philanthropic grants |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SLMath?
SLMath stands for the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute, an independent mathematical research institute based in Berkeley, California, formerly known as MSRI.
Why did MSRI change its name to SLMath?
In 2022, MSRI was rededicated as the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute in recognition of major endowment gifts from mathematicians and philanthropists Jim and Marilyn Simons, and Dwight and Virginia Laufer.
How do researchers apply for SLMath membership?
Researchers apply for visiting memberships, postdoctoral fellowships, and research professorships online through MathPrograms.org, typically submitting applications by December 1 for the following academic year.
Who funds SLMath?
SLMath is primarily supported through a major cooperative grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Mathematical Sciences (NSF Award 2424139), along with philanthropic endowments and academic sponsor dues.
Are SLMath lectures available online?
Yes. SLMath records nearly all scientific lectures, workshop presentations, and public seminars, making them freely streamable via its online video archive.
Sources
- Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), “About Us and Site Structure”, https://www.slmath.org/api/msri_menus, retrieved 8 November 2026.
- Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), “Current and Upcoming Programs”, https://www.slmath.org/api/programs, retrieved 8 November 2026.
- National Science Foundation, Award Abstract #2424139: “SLMath: Opening Doors to Mathematics”, https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards/2424139.json, retrieved 8 November 2026.
- Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath), “Plan Your Visit and Member Resources”, https://www.slmath.org/, retrieved 8 November 2026.
