Applications Open: 01/05/2026
Application Deadline: 02/20/2026
Overview
The Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship supports doctoral candidates pursuing research in mental health and serious mental illness. Named for a practitioner who dedicated 45 years to community mental health, this scholarship helps build the evidence base for occupational therapy’s vital role in mental health treatment and recovery.
Grant Amount: Up to $5,000
Duration: 1 year
Application Deadline: Check current funding cycle dates
What We Fund
The scholarship supports doctoral research focused on treatment, rehabilitation, prevention services, and wellness for chronic conditions of serious mental illness in adults, with preference given to studies addressing:
Eligibility Requirements
Academic Status
- Licensed occupational therapy practitioner
- Currently enrolled in a research doctoral program (PhD, ScD, or DrPH)
- Completed all coursework except dissertation writing and defense
- Successfully defended dissertation proposal at the time of application
Research Requirements
- Research focuses on mental health and serious mental illness in adults
- IRB approval obtained or in process
- Research must address treatment, rehabilitation, prevention, or wellness for serious mental illness
Mentorship and Institution
- Identified a mentor with expertise in mental health research
- Conducting research at a U.S. academic institution
Citizenship
- U.S. citizen or holder of appropriate residence or visa documentation
Application Process
Application Components
- Project Proposal: Detailed research plan with implementation science framework
- Budget and Justification: Comprehensive budget with line-item explanations
- Timeline: Project milestones and deliverables schedule
- Principal Investigator CV: Complete academic and research background
- Institutional Support: Letters confirming research infrastructure and support
- Literature Review: Comprehensive background and significance statement
Review Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Scientific Merit: Quality and rigor of research methodology
- Implementation Focus: Clear application of implementation science principles
- Practice Impact: Potential to improve evidence-based practice adoption
- Feasibility: Realistic timeline and achievable goals within the funding period
- Innovation: Novel approaches to implementation challenges
- Investigator Qualifications: PI’s expertise and institutional support
Building Research Capacity
The program supports the development of implementation science expertise within occupational therapy, building capacity for:
- Larger-scale implementation studies
- Federal funding applications (NIH, PCORI, AHRQ)
- Collaborative research networks
- Policy and practice change initiatives
Application Timeline
|
Stage |
Timeline |
|---|---|
|
Applications Open |
January 5, 2026 |
|
Application Deadline |
February 20, 2026 |
Check current funding cycle dates and application materials here
Grant Recipients
Vanessa Yanez, MSOT, OTR/L, PhD Candidate
Texas Woman’s University. Exploration of the psychosocial experiences and occupational participation in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: A phenomenological study
Samantha Randolph, OTR/L, PhD Student
Washington University in St. Louis, Toward an Understanding of Loneliness and Social Participation in Serious Mental Illness
Clarissa Mireau, PhD Candidate, MA, OTR/L, TPS
Nova Southeastern University Occupational Therapy, Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders in Intensive Residential Treatment: A Retrospective Study
Janell Pisegna, MOT, OTR/L
The Ohio State University, Examination of Poststroke Occupational Therapy Mental Health Care in Inpatient Rehabilitation
Resources for Applicants
Questions?