2026 nominations open in September 2025!

Following the 2019-20 review cycle, the first year of our updated nominations criteria and review process, we identified several areas where improved clarity and alignment could strengthen the nominations and streamline the review process. 

To support nominators in preparing compelling and complete submissions, we recommend keeping the following considerations in mind:

1. Nominator letters: Nominator letters should provide clear, specific evidence of the nominee’s original research and their impact within the nominee’s scientific domain. Please avoid simply summarizing the nominee’s CV. Instead, the letter should:

• Describe how the nominee’s research aligns with the Academy’s selection criteria.
• Highlight the significance and originality of the nominee’s work within the context of their scientific field.
• Reflect an understanding of how "impact" and "contribution" may differ across traditions within occupational therapy science.

2. Curriculum vitae: The nominees’ curricula vitae (CV) must clearly address each of the stated criteria outlined in the nomination instructions.

• Specified roles on funded projects (e.g., principal investigator, co-investigator, consultant).
• Research impact metrics (e.g. journal impact factor, citation counts, and impact indices such as h-index, citation score, field-weighted citation impact, etc.). Include the source (e.g. Google Scholar, ResearchGate, SciVal, Scopus, etc.).
• Notation to indicate seminal and/or field-changing contributions, when applicable.
• Notation to indicate authorship roles, especially senior authorship or mentored products.
• A notation to indicate mentee contributions (e.g. trainee publications, presentations, and awards).
• A brief personal statement within the CV that spells out the impact of research contributions on occupational therapy practice or education.

Membership in the Academy is limited to those individuals who have made distinguished, exemplary, and sustained contributions through research to the advancement of knowledge in occupational therapy. An applicant’s contributions through research will be evaluated based on rigor, originality, and impact.

3. Engagement in original research is evaluated in the following areas (presented in order of greatest consideration or weight):

• Sustained research program demonstrating long-term commitment with a clearly defined focus and evidence of originality.
• Show how funding (intra or extramural) has supported the research trajectory.
• Sustained record of peer-reviewed publications in a focused and original area (most highly weighted)
• Mentoring PhD doctoral students, post-doctoral students, and/or junior faculty (adjusted for institutional context)

4. Impact: 

Nominations should clearly describe how the nominee’s research has:

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of individuals, communities, or populations as it relates to occupation, function, and participation in everyday life.
• Impacted community partners/stakeholders (profession, clinicians, populations, patients, families, and children),
• Demonstrated originality, research quality, and sustained productivity (output).

Nominations must include: 

1. Cover Letter written by the primary nominator, indicating and highlighting the nominee’s major research contribution(s);
2. Letters of Support: Up to two additional letters may be included from individuals who can speak to the nominee’s scholarly impact and contributions.
3. Current Curriculum Vitae of the nominee that details research grants and roles, complete citations (including PMCID) for publications, and information on mentorship activities (e.g. mentee names, roles, outcomes)
4. Representative Research Publications: Three to five peer-reviewed journals authored by the nominee, Submitted as PDFs. 
5. Lay Summary: A paragraph (150 words or less, in plain language) describing the nominee’s research. This summary may be used in AOTF communications or publications.
6. Photograph: A hi-resolution photograph of the candidate (300 dpi or greater, in jpg format). 

Re-nomination Guidelines: 

1. If the nominee was previously nominated within the past two years, a full application is not required. Instead, they are only required to submit a 1-page update for their previously submitted application packet, highlighting any relevant achievements or changes since the last submission.
2. If needed, nominees may submit an updated CV’s or other documents if necessary to reflect their qualifications.
3. Beyond 2 years, a full application is required for renomination.

How to Submit a Nomination:

1. Please send the nomination package, including any necessary attachments, to research@aotf.org.
2. Use "Academy of Research Nomination" in the subject line.

Deadline: October 24, 2025.

Questions? Please contact research@aotf.org.