AOTF works closely with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to support a variety of programs designed to advance research, education, and leadership in occupational therapy. Several of these joint initiatives are undertaken during the annual AOTA Annual Conference while others are undertaken throughout the year.
OT Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy
2024 applications open!
March 22-23, 2023 | Orlando, FL
Submission deadline: Oct. 17, 2023
The American Occupational Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTA/AOTF) are pleased to announce the 2024 Institute for Future Scientists in Occupational Therapy. The sessions (March 22-23, 2024) will match potential student scientists with doctoral and post-doctorate mentors. Program participants will meet with leading occupational therapy scientists to address topics such as possibilities within OT science, considerations when evaluating potential doctoral programs, and career opportunities as a scientist.
Purpose of the Institute
The purpose of the Institute is: (1) to identify potential scientists in entry-level education programs; (2) to connect potential entry-level scientists with mentors in the occupational therapy scientific community; and (3) to develop a peer network.
Who is invited?
A cohort of entry-level students will be selected to participate in the in-person Institute on March 22-23, 2024 at the INSPIRE Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, FL. The facilitators and mentors of the Institute will be composed of faculty and doctoral/post-doctoral students from established research programs around the nation.
Eligibility
- To apply, you must be a current student in occupational therapy program with an interest in science and research in the field of occupational therapy.
- The intent of the program is to train and mentor future occupational therapy scientific researchers who may have limited exposure to research opportunities at their current institution, therefore, students attending research intensive institutions and/or institutions with a heavy research mission are not eligible (e.g., DRU-VH Carnegie Classification). Students from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply supporting the Associations’ objective of developing a workforce to meet society’s diverse occupational needs in underserved areas or communities.
- If you are unsure of your eligibility, email edleadership@aota.org.
Program Requirements
Students who participate in the Institute are expected to continue in the field of scientific research in occupational therapy. As such, participants will be asked to complete an annual survey to report on the progress they have made in their scientific pursuits.
Congratulations 2023 Summer Institute Students
Anna Pethel, Augusta University |
Adam Regalado, Gannon University |
Amanda Chaires, Worcester State University |
André Johnson, Florida A&M University |
Andrea Dultra, Maryville University |
Brianna BellWinston, Salem State University |
Brianna Brewster, Drake University |
Brianna Milstrey, Moravian University |
Deborah Kofsky, Nova Southeastern University |
Emma Robinson, Ithaca College |
Francesca Gambino, New York Institute of Technology |
Gabriela Alejandra Torres Ferrer, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus |
Ivy Rivers, Western New England University |
Jane Sato, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Jennifer Ocana, Salem State University |
Jodi Collins, Eastern Kentucky University |
Jose Gonzalez, Eastern Kentucky University |
Kelsey A. Gately, Johnson & Wales University |
Kiana Ladson-Wingate, Brenau University |
Kristen Springer, Shenandoah University |
Lanoris Parker, Nova Southeastern University |
Macarena del Corral Winder, Lincoln Memorial University |
Marissa Heirich, Dominican University of California |
Olivia Bowley, Towson University |
Rebekah Boning, California State University, Dominquez Hills |
Robert Motley, University of New England |
Sadie Schultes, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Profession |
Sam Greenspan, Pacific University |
Sheridan Cleave, Wingate University |
Sophia Bertrand, Marquette University |
Tajze Johnson, Methodist University |
Victoria Kite, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University |
Yasmien Hanania, Loma Linda University |
2022 Summer Institute Students
Briana Arellano, Texas Woman's University
Priscilla Ayala, Howard University
Cydnee Bacci, Belmont University
Luke Baker, Eastern Michigan University
Paige Barham, Methodist University
Emily Buckman, Long Island University-Brooklyn
Chrystyna Colon, Salus University
Tara Gebhardt, D'Youville College
Kelsey Girbino, Cleveland State University
Molly Graesser, University of South Dakota
Kirstin Gutierrez, Chatham University
Carla Hatfield, Shenandoah University
Marissa Heirich, Dominican University of California
Joanne Holler, Cedar Crest College
Ashley Layne, SUNY Downstate School of Health Professions
Katherine McGinley, Huntington University
Rose Mary Mulholland, Florida Gulf Coast University
Savanah Perrini, Wingate University
Mikayla Rai, Howard University
Heather Sanchez, Florida International University
Natalie Schur, Saint Louis University
Shreena Shah, Western Michigan University
Katie Shepard, Texas Woman's University
Ariona Smith, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Aiyana Tietze-Di Toro, Elizabethtown College
Tabitha Toral, Loma Linda University
Andrea Valdez, Creighton University (School of Pharmacy and Health Professions)
Michelle Vayas, Northern Arizona University
Ariel Wallace, Towson University
Anne Wepfer, Western New England University
Jacob Whitworth, University of Central Arkansas
Alisha Woodside, Wingate University
2021 Summer Institute Students
Janelle Barna, Elizabethtown College
Madeline Bazan, Drake University
Monica Buoni, Saint Louis University
Kate de Castro, Duquesne University
Bobbi Dynice, Quinnipiac University
Anna Fostik, Misericordia University
Maria Garcia Ruelas, Brenau University
Emily Hopf, Saint Louis University
Fitria Jong-Martinez, Loma Linda University
Sheherazad Kapadia, Brunel University
London Rachel Keen, Wingate University
Samah Khan, Governors State University
Hershila Lallu, University of Central Arkansas
Azjah Land, James Madison University
Ashley MacKinen, Texas Woman's University
Tanzia Mostari, New York Institute of Technology (Old Westbury Campus)
Esperanza Munoz, College of Saint Mary
Gunnar Olson, University of South Dakota
Dhara Patel, Brenau University
Zoe Peters, Dominican University of California
Case Peters, Northern Arizona University
Shayna Quach, California State University-Dominguez Hills
Shasta Rice, Dominican University of California
Angela Shannahan, Wayne State University
Emily Shaw, The College of St. Scholastica
David Sherman, Western Michigan University
Michael Stamm, Huntington University
Katherine Van Gurp, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lauren Villa, Towson University
Kyla Villaroya, D'Youville College
2020 Summer Institute Students
Austin Cunningham, Winston-Salem State University
Chelsea Steffens, Drake University
Ashley Rigas, Pacific University
Kyra Barillier, Saint Louis University
Tara Hood, Eastern Kentucky University
Jessica Golding , Towson University
Taylor Wienkes, Creighton University
Molly Nadeau, Kean University
Brooke Ellis, Western New England University
Kelsey Hadsall, Misericordia University
William Librizzi, University of the Sciences
Grace Hellier, James Madison University
Ellery Lockwood, Stanbridge University
Lorelei Hoover, University of Findlay
Braxton Willoughby, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Mollyanne Tessler, Long Island UniversityBrooklyn
Taylor Keahilani Kenui/Fong, Rocky Mountain College
Kathleen Ann Melei, Huntington University
Elizabeth Stevens, The College of St. Scholastica
Allison Pfleghaar, Florida Gulf Coast University
Shannon Myers, Midwestern University Downers Grove
Samantha Holzschu, Western Michigan University
Natalie (NJ) Phillips, Eastern Michigan University
Emma Kinsey, University of Central Arkansas
Melissa Dale, East Carolina University
Tennille Lambert, Mercy College
Emily Yuen, Dominican University of California
Alleya James, Methodist University
Catherine Arora, Mercy College
Jared Southwick, Arkansas State University
Rowan Wallace, University of Southern Maine
Karla Morel, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus