Congratulations to our 2026 Fellowship & Scholarship Recipients!
We’re thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2026 research doctoral scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships! Congratulations to all these exceptional research doctoral students, candidates, and post-docs who will receive funding to support their projects.
The American Occupational Therapy Foundation is proud to invest in these emerging OT researchers whose leadership and insights will shape the future of occupational therapy practice.
Join us in recognizing the following recipients for 2026:
Post-Doctoral Fellowships
Nedra Gilette Endowed Research Fellowship
Rachel M. Vaughn, PhD, MOT, OTR/L
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Healthcare Trajectories for Adolescents and Young Adults after Suicide Attempt: Examining the Presence of Occupational Therapy in Post-Crisis Care
Nancy Talbot Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship
Jordan C.W. Major, MOT, OTR/L
University of Florida, Integrating Occupational Therapy into a Diabetes Pregnancy Clinic to Reduce Diabetes Distress and Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Doctoral Scholarships
Dr. A. Jean Ayres Doctoral Candidate Research Scholarship
Savannah Gluck, MOT, OTR/L
University of Southern California, Sleep, Sensory Processing, and Soothing in the First Year of Life
Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship
Cassandra Winters, MOT, OTR/L
University of Illinois, Advancing Occupational Therapy’s Role in Mental Health: A Grounded Theory of Postpartum Mood Disorders in Women with Disabilities
Dr. Gary Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship
SangJin(Jinnie) Lee, MS, OTR/L
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Motivation and Habit Integration in Stroke Rehabilitation: Pathways to Improved Daily Physical Activity