Established in 2018

Purpose

To recognize and support investigators who have contributed to advancing knowledge in the field of occupational therapy.

Eligibility

• Nominee must be a certified occupational therapist.
• Nominee must have a research-based doctoral degree or clinical doctorate with demonstrated research experience.
• Nominee must be 6-15 years post-completion of doctoral degree.
• Nominee must show research accomplishments that contribute to advancing knowledge in the field of occupational therapy as demonstrated by grant awards, publications, presentations and impact of work to improve practice and health (e.g., body of work makes a difference in the field or for people receiving occupational therapy).
• Candidates may self-nominate.
• Individuals nominated but not selected may be re-nominated in succeeding years, if eligible.

Nomination Procedures

2024 have closed. 2025 nominations will open June 2024.

Please include:

• Completed nomination form.
• Letter of nomination (include as an addendum to the nomination letter, a short paragraph of no more than 100 words to appear in professional publications citing the nominee’s contributions).
• A statement of approximately 500 words in length outlining the nominee’s research contributions to advancing knowledge in the field of occupational therapy and/or rehabilitation science (For example, did nominee’s work result in adoption of a measure, intervention, approach to practice, policy or paradigm shift, etc. nationally and/or internationally?  How has the work been viewed accepted and incorporated into research, practice, or education?).
• Three (3) letters of support.
• Current curriculum vitae of nominee which must include a list of publications, and/or presentations (seminars, symposia, workshops, scientific papers, awards, and honors).
• Reprints of three (3) publications (examples of nominee’s scholarship/contribution in field) from peer-reviewed journals.
• Recent photograph of nominee suitable for reproduction (hi-resolution 300 dpi or greater .jpeg).

Expectation of Award Recipient:

• Receive a $10,000 honorarium;
• Attend the AOTA Annual Conference & Exposition and make a 30-40 minute presentation on research accomplishments to date.
• Submit a manuscript of their presentation for possible publication in OTJR:  Occupation, Participation & Health, subject to the policies of OTJR and with final approval of its Editor-in-Chief.