AOTF’s Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (STRIDE) committee is offering $10,000 in OT research funds to occupational therapy (OT) graduate students and clinicians from underrepresented groups 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. 

Eligibility Criteria

The applicant must:

•  Be a Master’s (OT) or OTD student, who has completed their program requirements, OR a part or a full-time OT clinician.
•  Be from an under-represented group, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds.  Please refer to the following NIH link regarding information on underrepresented groups: https://diversity.nih.gov/about-us/population-underrepresented. 

The STRIDE Research Fund program will pair promising students and clinicians with researchers (mentors) from around the country. The mentor will be identified by the AOTF’s STRIDE committee and will be at an institution other than the student or clinician’s own. The mentor will guide the selected student /clinician through a research experience over an intensive 8 or 16-week period. During this period, the mentor will provide instruction, direction, challenge and support to the mentee through weekly individual meetings, weekly lab meetings 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 future prospects for research engagement for the applicant, networking possibilities and regional & national conference opportunities. Additionally, the mentor will guide the applicant to prepare a presentation for the STRIDE Research Fund Symposium to showcase their work.

Spring 2023 fellowships will be virtual with the option of supplementing the virtual experience with visits to the mentor’s lab.

Mentee Profile:
A practicing occupational therapist or an OTD student in good standing who has completed all program requirements or is awaiting the start of a Level II Fieldwork placement (i.e., a graduate student with a gap in-between ending coursework and Level II Fieldwork due to scheduling challenges). The applicant may apply for full-time or a part-time research fund.

• Full-time Research Fund: Awardees are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week for 8 weeks. Stipends can be used to offset lost wages and other expenses (e.g., transportation, internet hotspot, food, and housing) for a total of $10,000. Receipts will be required for reimbursement of all non-stipend expenditures.
• Part-time Research Fund: Awardees are expected to work approximately 10 hours per week for 16 weeks. Stipends can be used to offset lost wages and other expenses (e.g., transportation, internet hotspot, food, and housing) for a total of $10,000. Receipts will be required for reimbursement of all non-stipend expenditures. Selected students and clinicians will be paired with mentors by the AOTF’s STRIDE committee based on their areas of interest.

Selected students and clinicians will be paired with mentors by the AOTF’s STRIDE committee based on their areas of interest. 

Funding:
The awardees will receive financial support (up to US $10,000) to enable them to meet with their mentors, participate in lab meetings, work with staff and pre- and postdoctoral students, and build critical skills through hands-on training in research methods.

Expected Outcome:
Upon completion of the experience, students and clinicians will present their work at a dedicated virtual symposium, and are encouraged to submit their work for presentation at professional conferences (e.g., AOTA).

Award Requirements:

The awardee will:

• Create an individualized development plan with their mentor prior to the start of the 8/16-week award period.
• Send their research fund expense report along with the receipts (of all non-stipend expenditures) to AOTF at research@aotf.org. Unused award money will be returned to the AOTF at the end of the award period.
• Attend (virtually) the STRIDE Research Fund Symposium in May, 2023.
• Complete a post program evaluation so that we may assess the applicant’s and the program’s strengths and areas for growth.

Application Instructions for 2023 Fund

Applications Open: September 15, 2022.
Deadline: October 31, 2022.

• Application Instructions
• FAQ's

Please submit the following materials on SurveyMonkey by October 31, 2022:

• Cover page
• Current resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Unofficial transcript of the last degree (a pdf is acceptable)
• Letter of recommendation from a faculty member at the student’s institution or from an OT manager or an OT colleague (should be a researcher).
• Research Essay that addresses the following questions:
  1. Potential research question;
  2. Anticipated products/outcomes;
  3. Applicant’s related course work and experience;
  4. An explanation of how the experience will benefit the applicant academically, personally, and/or professionally; and
  5. Background information on how the applicant’s life/personal experience reflects the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion as an occupational therapist and/or occupational therapy student.
• Detailed budget proposal

Questions: Email research@aotf.org

2022 Recipients

Joanne Oates-Toussaint, ppOTD Student, Temple University 
Lena Gipson Showalter, OTD, Through the Looking Glass 
Shanteria Carr, OTD, OTR/L, Howard University