The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025 Research Fellowships and Scholarships. This funding supports post-doctoral researchers and doctoral candidates in pursuing their OT research. 

2025 Research Fellowship Recipients:

Bridget Kraus, PhD, MOT, OTR/L: Postdoctoral Fellow at The Curators of the University of Missouri. Title: Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Understanding and Promotion of Spinal Cord Injury Self-Management Throughout the Continuum of Care. Recipient of the Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship: This award supports foundational occupational therapy studies into the human condition.

Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L: Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Title: Asthma Home Occupation-based Modified Environmental (HOME) Assessment: Implementer Perspectives. Recipient of the Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: This fellowship seeks to improve diversity within the occupational therapy workforce.

2025 Research Scholarship Recipients:

Marshae Franklin, OTD, MSOT, OTR/L: PhD Candidate Research Assistant at the University of Southern California. Title: Exploring Authentic Belonging as Narrated by Black Autistic Women in STEM and Its Implications for DEI in Higher Education and Beyond. Recipient of the Dr. Gary Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship in Occupational Therapy: This scholarship recognizes research that advances the field of occupational therapy through investigations in key areas.

Vanessa Yanez, MSOT, OTR/L: PhD Candidate at Texas Woman's University. Research Title: Exploration of the psychosocial experiences and occupational participation in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A phenomenological study. Recipient of the Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship: This scholarship supports research in mental health and severe mental illness.

Amy Watson-Grace, OTD, OTR/L, BCP: Graduate Research Associate at The Ohio State University. Research Title: Sensory Processing, Sex Differences, and Autism Special Education Eligibility: Investigating Policy, Perceptions, and Practice. Recipient of the Dr. A. Jean Ayres Doctoral Candidate Scholarship: This scholarship supports research in sensory integration and/or sensory processing.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is also excited to announce the inaugural recipient of our new mentorship funding!

The Dr. Carolyn Baum Cognitive Function in Daily Life Mentor Award Recipient:

Timothy J. Wolf, OTD, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA from the University of Missouri. This award recognizes outstanding mentors in functional cognition research and provides funding to support their mentee's research. Dr. Wolf's mentee is Melanie Morriss Tkach.

Congratulations to all of the 2025 AOTF Funding Recipients! Their research promises to significantly impact the field of occupational therapy and improve the lives of individuals and communities.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation proudly announces the 2024-2025  STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS) recipients.

This scholarship, offered by the Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) committee, provides research funds to occupational therapy (OT) graduates and clinicians from under-represented backgrounds, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds.

The goal is to broaden their representation in OT research by supporting their participation in a mentored research experience at an institution other than their own.

During this time, a mentor will guide each recipient through a comprehensive research experience. Before the research begins, the mentor will collaborate with the recipient to create an individualized development plan, ensuring a tailored and impactful learning journey.

Meet the recipients of the STRIDE scholarship for the 2024-2025 period, a group of occupational therapy (OT) graduates and clinicians, and their mentors, who play a crucial role in guiding them through this transformative journey.

Congratulations to these outstanding individuals whose diverse perspectives and innovative research promise to significantly contribute to the OT community and beyond.