The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) is a dedicated partner in advancing occupational therapy research, education, and leadership. We collaborate closely with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) on various initiatives throughout the year, including the AOTA Conference and Expo, the AOTF/AOTA Institute for the Future of Occupational Therapy, and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) at the AOTF Engage Summit. Additionally, our partnerships with a variety of organizations help us develop impactful programs that promote our shared goals.
WISH Workshop
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), Brown University Center for Gerontology & Healthcare Research, and the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research invite rehabilitation researchers with an interest in implementation science, learning health systems research, and/or health services research to apply to participate in our Workshop in Implementation Science and Health Grant Writing (WISH), June 1-3, 2027. This intensive grant-writing workshop is in its fifth iteration and is open to rehabilitation researchers from all professions. AOTF provides financial support and participates in this annual program.
June 1-3, 2027 | Alexandria, VA (Applications close Jan. 11, 2027)
Registration is complimentary. Additionally, a limited number of travel awards are designated for OT researchers and will cover hotel costs and provide up to $550 for travel expenses for:
- Junior Faculty or Trainees
- Foreign Nationals who meet travel reimbursement eligibility requirements
Workshop Tracks:
- Implementation Science
- Health Services Research
- Mixed Approach (components of both)
Participants in each track will be assigned to mentored pods to discuss and critique draft research proposals.
TIDE
TIDE: Establishing Trust, Stimulating Inquiry, Nurturing Development, and Community Engagement trains current clinician scientists in mentoring best practices and community-engaged research while exposing graduate professional students to the skills needed to pursue careers in rehabilitation research. AOTF provides financial support to this R25.
OT Summit of Scholars
OT Summit of Scholars is a collaboration between the occupational therapy academic programs at the University of Washington, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Florida, and The Ohio State University. AOTF provides financial support to this annual program.
Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation (TIGRR)
Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation (TIGRR) is a 4-day one-on-one mentorship workshop that provides the expertise and support to be successful at the national level in obtaining research grant support. The target audience for this workshop is emerging principal investigators who focus on rehabilitation research. AOTF provides financial support to this R25.
Jan. 4-8, 2027 | Charleston, SC
AOTF-AOTA Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy
A cohort of entry-level OT students will be selected to participate in the American Occupational Therapy Foundation/ American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTF/AOTA) Institute of Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy on ~ April 9-10, 2027, at the AOTA INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Boston, MA. The in-person sessions will match potential student scientists with doctoral and postdoctoral mentors. Program participants will meet with leading occupational therapy scientists to discuss topics such as opportunities in OT science, considerations when evaluating doctoral programs, and career opportunities in science.
April 9-10, 2027 | Boston, MA (Applications close Oct. 19, 2026)
Eligibility:
- To apply, you must be a student currently enrolled in an OT program with an interest in science and research in the field of OT.
- As the program aims to train and mentor future occupational therapy scientific researchers who may have limited exposure to research opportunities at their current institution, students attending research-intensive institutions and/or institutions with a heavy research mission are not eligible (e.g., DRU-VH Carnegie Classification).
- If you are unsure of your eligibility, email edleadership@aota.org.
