Applications Open: 06/01/2026
Application Deadline: 06/29/2026
Overview
Program Mission
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) committee, is offering research funds to occupational therapy (OT) graduates and clinicians from underrepresented backgrounds, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds1 2 to address the urgent need of broadening their representation in OT research. This research fund will support their participation in a mentored research experience at an institution other than their own (previously called the STRIDE OT Research Fund or SRF).
Funding
The awardees will receive financial support (up to US $10,000) to support their participation in a mentored research experience at an institution other than their own. This funding will enable them to meet with their mentors, participate in lab meetings, and build critical knowledge and skills through training in research methods and processes.
Expected Outcome
Upon completion of the experience, graduates and clinicians will prepare and present their final poster at a poster session during the 2027 AOTA INSPIRE Conference.
About AOTF’s STRIDE Commitee
STRIDE stands for Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. It is the American
Occupational Therapy Foundation’s (AOTF) standing committee to develop, direct, and evaluate
AOTF initiatives to promote diversity & belonging, combat racism, heal trauma, achieve equity,
and social justice. STRIDE aims to identify and address any barriers in our community to full
inclusion and learn more from our stakeholders about experiences that could inform us about
how to do better and promote the kinds of reflections and insights that fuel change.
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant must be:
- A post-professional Master’s (OT) graduate, an entry-level or post-professional OTD graduate, who has completed their program requirements AND/OR an OT clinician.
- From an under-represented background, with disabilities, and/or from an under-resourced
background. Please refer to the following NSF & HRSA links regarding information on underrepresented
groups: Minorities & Underrepresented Minority
Note: You are not eligible if you are currently a faculty member or a PhD student or accepted into a PhD program for the upcoming Fall/Spring semester
The STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship program will pair promising graduates/clinicians (mentees) with researchers (mentors) nationwide.
SMRS Mentee Profile:
- A practicing occupational therapist or a Master’s (OT) or OTD graduate, from an underrepresented background, with disabilities, and/or from an under-resourced background.
- Awardees are expected to work approximately 160 hours during the award period. Stipends can be used to offset lost wages and other expenses (e.g., transportation, internet hotspot, food, and housing). Receipts will be required for all expenditures.
- Selected applicants will be paired with mentors identified either by the AOTF’s STRIDE sub-committee or by the applicant (and approved by the STRIDE sub-committee).
SMRS Mentor Role:
The mentor will guide the mentee through a research experience during the award period. Before the start of the research experience, the mentor will create an individualized development plan with the applicant.
During the research experience, the mentor will provide instruction, direction, challenge, and support to the mentee through weekly/biweekly mentorship meetings, weekly lab meetings, review of the mentee’s work and feedback, suggesting coursework or seminars related to the mentee’s goals, and/or training to carry out expected research experience. The mentor will monitor the mentee’s research activities and provide feedback, offer informal guidance and direction regarding prospects for research engagement for the applicant, networking possibilities, and regional & national conference opportunities. Additionally, the mentor will guide the applicant to prepare and present their final poster at an AOTF event during the AOTA INSPIRE 2025 conference to showcase their work.
Fund Requirements
The RECIPIENT will:
- Create an individualized development plan with their mentor during the award period.
- Participate in person or virtually in weekly/biweekly individual meetings, weekly lab meetings, and/or training to carry out expected research experience.
- At the end of the award period, work with a mentor to prepare a poster on their mentored research experience for STRIDE feedback.
- Present their final poster at the 2026 AOTA INSPIRE conference to showcase their learning as a STRIDE awardee.
- At the end of the award period, send their research fund expense report along with the receipts (of all non-stipend expenditures) at the end of the award period with a check for unused funds to:
- Attn: Jeanne Cooper
AOTF, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 520
Rockville, MD 20582
- Attn: Jeanne Cooper
- Complete a post-program evaluation so that we may assess the applicant’s and the program’s strengths and areas for growth. 2026 SMRS research experience may be virtual with the option of supplementing a virtual experience with visits to the mentor’s lab.
the mentor will:
- Guide the mentee towards specific research-related skills such as combinations of the following: formulating a research question, research design and methods used to study relevant research questions, development of study protocols, qualitative/quantitative data processing methods related to the research area of the mentee, literature appraisal, review, and synthesis, team science skills: collaboration, roles, communication, and negotiation.
- Provide instruction, direction, challenge, and support to the mentee during the research process by actively engaging with the applicant throughout the research experience (e.g., weekly individual meetings, weekly lab meetings, and training to carry out expected research experience).
- Monitor the mentee’s research activities and provide feedback (specific weekly/biweekly mentorship plan).
- Discuss the actual mentorship process relationship and expectations for both mentor/mentee for future career development.
- Offer informal guidance and direction regarding:
Prospects for research engagement for the applicant. - Networking possibilities.
- Regional & national conference opportunities within your discipline.
- Mentor the applicant to prepare and present their final poster during the 2027 AOTA INSPIRE conference to showcase their work.
- If possible, attend the 2027 AOTA INSPIRE conference.
- Complete a post-program evaluation so that we may assess the applicant’s and the program’s strengths and areas for growth.
Resources For Applicants
2026 application INstructions and guidelines now available!
Questions?
Fund Timeline
|
Date |
Application stage |
|---|---|
|
May 26, 2026 |
STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship Applications Q&A |
|
June 1, 2026 |
Applications open |
|
June 29, 2026 |
Applications close |
|
September 2026 |
Funds are released, and the award period begins |
|
January 2027 |
Award period ends |
|
February 2027 |
Submit your poster outline to research@aotf.org and receive feedback from STRIDE subcommittee members |
|
February 2027 |
Submit poster abstract to AOTA |
|
March 2027 |
Send e-version of the final poster to AOTF |
|
February 2027 |
Submit poster abstract to AOTA |
|
March 2027 |
Send e-version of the final poster to AOTF |
|
April 2027 |
Present final poster at the AOTA INSPIRE Conference |
|
April 2027 |
Submit your research fund expense report |