The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025 Fellowships and Scholarships. These prestigious awards recognize and support exceptional occupational therapy researchers and scholars advancing the field through innovative research and impactful scholarship.

2025 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 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 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.

Are you a full-time student enrolled in an accredited occupational therapy (OT) program? Are you looking for financial support to fuel your academic journey? Look no further—the AOTF Scholarship Program is your opportunity to advance your education and career. With over 50 scholarships available this year, ranging from $150 to $5,000, the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is dedicated to helping students like you succeed.

Why Apply? 
The impact of AOTF scholarships speaks for itself. In just the past few years, over 700 students have received financial awards, easing their path toward becoming future leaders in occupational therapy. These scholarships are available in collaboration with partners NBCOT, OT.com, and over 25 state OT associations, making this a national effort to support our profession's growth. Whether pursuing a degree as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, this program is for you. 

• Eligibility: Full-time students enrolled in accredited or developing OT programs.

• Awards range from $150 to $5,000.

• Submit one application for all eligible scholarships you qualify for.

• Even if you’re starting your OT journey as a first-year student; you can apply!

Applications are now open, so act quickly!
Applying is simple—with just one application, you’ll automatically be considered for all eligible scholarships. Submit your applications with references by Monday, September 30, 2024. 

"Thank you so much for selecting me as a recipient of the Ohio OT Association Endowed Scholarship. It is an absolute honor, and I am beyond blessed to have the committee’s support in my journey to becoming an OT. With this scholarship, I will continue seeking out opportunities for personal & professional growth to ensure I can positively impact my clients and the field of occupational therapy." — Sydney F., 2023/2024 Recipient

What’s New? For the 2024-2025 academic year, AOTF aims to give away every scholarship dollar. That means more chances for you to secure funding for your education. With over 50 available scholarships managed, we want to ensure no eligible student is left behind. Remember, the deadline is approaching fast—don’t wait! Apply now.

For questions or support, contact us at scholarships@aotf.org or call 240-292-1077.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is proud to announce the opening of applications for its prestigious fellowships and scholarships. These opportunities are designed to support and encourage exceptional researchers and doctoral students in advancing the field of occupational therapy.

Fellowships for Post-Doctoral Researchers

• Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship: This fellowship supports a postdoctoral researcher's foundational occupational therapy study into the human condition.

• Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Designed to enhance diversity within the occupational therapy workforce by supporting postdoctoral training for underrepresented groups.

Scholarships for OT Doctoral Students

• NEW! Dr. A. Jean Ayres Occupational Therapy Doctoral Candidate Research Scholarship: A new scholarship honoring the pioneer of sensory integration, supporting doctoral research in this area.

• Dr. Gary Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship in Occupational Therapy: Provides support for doctoral students pursuing research in occupational therapy.

• Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship: Dedicated to supporting doctoral research in mental health and serious mental illness.

Application Period: All fellowships and scholarships will be open for applications from August 1, 2024 to September 15, 2024.

These awards offer invaluable support to researchers and doctoral students as they contribute to the body of knowledge in occupational therapy. We encourage eligible candidates to apply.

For more information, visit the Grants section.

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is committed to strengthening our profession through research and practice. A cornerstone of this mission is providing financial aid to students at all degree levels in occupational therapy (OT). These future researchers, practitioners, and leaders need our support today.

AOTF is pleased to introduce two new scholarships that will soon be accepting applications. These two scholarships recognize two outstanding figures in OT and elevate our need for future OTs to emulate their personal and professional character.

The Dr. A. Jean Ayres Doctoral Candidate Scholarship will support an emerging OT scientist conducting research in sensory integration and sensory processing pursuant to their dissertation plan. Occupational therapists play a crucial role in evaluating and treating people with sensory issues. The increasing number of individuals with sensory processing challenges underscores the urgent need for robust OT evidence.

This scholarship will be $5,000, and AOTF has been gifted $25,000 to support five years of this award. AOTF is working to build an endowment of $125,000 for this fund so this scholarship may be offered forever

The Lands Banks Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Lands Banks, who served as the Manager of Administration and Facilities for AOTA for over 25 years. This scholarship recognizes Lands Banks's incredible impact on AOTA and the OT profession by supporting the next generation of occupational therapists.

Through the generosity of Lands' friends and colleagues, this scholarship has been created to support a student pursuing an OTA, MOT/MSOT, or OTD with an annual award of $2,000. Eligible candidates must demonstrate their role in community service and/or a service leadership role, as Lands' commitment to community service is one of his most recognizable qualities. Preference for this scholarship will be given to students from historically underrepresented minorities in occupational therapy. 

AOTF is working to build an endowment of $50,000 for this scholarship, which will provide a $2,000 scholarship forever.

If you wish to learn more about these scholarships or support our work to endow either of these funds with a philanthropic gift, please get in touch with Lawrence Liff at lliff@aotf.org

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is offering a unique scholarship program called the STRIDE (Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity). 

This program is special because it focuses on increasing diversity and equity in occupational therapy research by providing funding to a specific group of applicants.

What’s new this year? 

• This year (2024), AOTF renamed the STRIDE OT Research Fund (SRF) as the STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS). 
• AOTF has collected a database of mentors interested in assisting you on your research journey, aiming to best match awardees and mentors together based on areas of interest and expertise.  

Who is eligible? 

This scholarship is open to practicing occupational therapy clinicians, and graduates committed to broadening participation in research. However, the eligibility criteria go beyond academic qualifications. Here's what sets SMRS apart: 

• Background: The program targets applicants from under-represented backgrounds, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds. Please refer to the NIH link regarding information on underrepresented groups. This ensures opportunities are given to those who might otherwise face barriers to entering research. 
• Experience: You can be a post-professional Master's (OT) graduate, an entry-level or post-professional OTD graduate, or a practicing OT Clinician. This opens the door to both recent graduates and experienced clinicians who may be practicing full or part-time. 

What will you gain? 

If you're selected for the SMRS program, you'll be paired with a research mentor at an institution outside your own. This mentorship provides valuable guidance and support as you: 

• Gain hands-on experience in a research project aligned with your interests. 
• Develop critical research skills, like formulating research questions and analyzing data. 
• Build your network within the occupational therapy research community. 

Showcasing Your Work 

The program culminates with you presenting a poster on your research experience at the AOTA INSPIRE Conference. This is a fantastic opportunity to: 

• Share your findings with a wider audience. 
• Gain recognition for your work. 
• Network with other occupational therapy professionals. 

Is the STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship right for you? 

If you are an occupational therapist who is passionate about research and comes from an under-represented background, with a disability, and/or from an under-resourced background, then this scholarship program could be a game-changer. It provides financial support, mentorship, and a platform to showcase your research.  

Building a More Diverse Research Landscape 

The STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship has been fostering diverse and qualified occupational therapists in research for two years now, with five recipients in 2023 and three in 2022. This program's commitment to increasing equity is ongoing. 

Don't miss out! The application deadline is July 19, 2024.  

Apply now or share the news with your network so that others can apply, too! 

If you would like to serve as a STRIDE mentor for the following years, please use this Qualtrics Survey link 

FAQ link