STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship is sponsored by American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). Pairs promising OT graduates/clinicians from underrepresented backgrounds with mentors for research experiences, potentially including AI applications in occupational therapy.

STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship AOTF Scientific Advisory Council Academy of Research in OT Implementation Research Grant Intervention Research Grant Health Services Research Grant Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship AOTF/MJFF Occupational Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease Grant Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship Dr. Carolyn Baum Cognitive Function in Daily Life Mentor Award Dr. A.

Jean Ayres Doctoral Candidate Scholarship AOTF-ASHT-AHTF's Hand in Hand Grant Community Engaged Research Grant Planning Grant Collectives OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research External Research Funding AOTF Events at the AOTA Annual Conference Award for Excellence in Interchapter Collaboration Additional Financial Aid Resources AOTF Scientific Advisory Council Academy of Research in OT Implementation Research Grant Nedra Gillette Endowed Research Fellowship Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Doctoral Student Scholarship Dr. Carolyn Baum Cognitive Function in Daily Life Mentor Award Community Engaged Research Grant Intervention Research Grant Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Dr. A.

Jean Ayres Doctoral Candidate Scholarship Health Services Research Grant AOTF/MJFF Occupational Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease Grant STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship AOTF-ASHT-AHTF's Hand in Hand Grant Planning Grant Collectives External Research Funding AOTF Events at the AOTA Annual Conference OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research Award for Excellence in Interchapter Collaboration Additional Financial Aid Resources STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship Grants > STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship Research Fellowships and Scholarships Close Educational Scholarships Close STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS) 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 underresourced backgrounds to address the urgent need to broaden their representation in OT research.

This research fund will support their participation in a mentored research experience guided by an esteemed scientist (previously called the STRIDE OT Research Fund or SRF).

Grant Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI) (effective as of June 2025) For Applicants: While AOTF does not prohibit the use of AI tools to assist in the writing of proposals (e.g., spell-check and language suggestions), applicants remain fully responsible for ensuring their proposals are factually accurate, clearly written, and appropriately cited. Any AI-generated text must be clearly acknowledged in the application using footnotes.

For Reviewers: Reviewers are prohibited from uploading AOTF applications into any AI systems due to concerns with confidential and proprietary information. To ensure integrity and confidentiality is upheld, grant reviewers will be required to submit a confidentiality agreement form prior to starting the review process.

Eligibility Criteria: 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 a group underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences, such as people with disabilities, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, such as Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

1 2 Note: You are not eligible if you are a currently enrolled PhD student, accepted into a PhD program for the upcoming Fall/Spring semester, or are faculty. The STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship program will pair promising graduates/clinicians (mentees) with researchers (mentors) nationwide.

The mentor may be identified by the applicant or by AOTF’s STRIDE subcommittee and will be at an institution other than the graduate or clinician’s own. A practicing occupational therapist or a Master’s (OT) or OTD graduate, from an under-represented background, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds. 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).

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 2026 conference to showcase their work.

Submit interest in becoming a STRIDE Mentor The awardees will receive financial support (up to US $10,000) to enable them to meet with their mentors, participate in lab meetings, and build critical knowledge and skills through training in research methods and processes. Upon completion of the experience, graduates and clinicians will prepare and present their final poster at an AOTF event during the 2026 AOTA INSPIRE Conference.

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. 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: AOTF, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 520 Complete a post-program evaluation/feedback form so that AOTF may assess the program’s strengths and areas for growth.

2025 SMRS research experience may be virtual, with the option of supplementing a virtual experience with visits to the mentor’s lab.

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 the 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 2026 AOTA INSPIRE conference to showcase their work. If possible, attend the 2026 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. Application Checklist (2025-2026 cycle now closed) Questions? Contact research@aotf.

org . Results & Mentor match announced Submit an individualized development plan developed with your Mentor, along with your completed W9 form to AOTF. Release of funds (assuming all required paperwork is received by AOTF) 1) Submit poster outline to AOTF at research@AOTF.

org. 2) Submit your research fund expense report and the receipts (of all non-stipend expenditures).

Please mail a check for unused funds to Attn: Jeanne Cooper AOTF, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 520, Rockville, MD 20852 Awardees receive feedback on posters from the STRIDE subcommittee and submit their poster abstract to AOTA Send an e-version of the final poster to AOTF Present final poster at the AOTA INSPIRE 2026 conference Jocelynn Aguilar, OTR/L, Brooks Rehabilitation. (Mentor: Ganesh Babulal, PhD, OTD, MSCI, MOT).

Carolin Capurro Perez, OTD, The George Washington University. (Mentor: Bobbi Pineda, PhD, OTR/L, CNT). Mario Millsap, OTD, MSOT, Washington University School of Medicine in St.

Louis. (Mentor: Virginia Way Tong Chu, Ph. D.

, OTR/L). Mirline Milien, MS, OTR/L, CSRS, BCPR, Brooks Rehabilitation. (Mentor: Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, MS, OTR/L).

Jackeline Yagual, MSOT, OTR/L, BCP, Forefront Therapy, LLC. (Mentor: Catherine Hoyt, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA). Michele Andrianna Cary, CScD, MPH, MTS, OTR/L, CAM, Healthcare Professional Consultants Corp. Title: Implementation Strategies for Preventing Maternal Mortality for African American Mothers.

(Mentor: Elizabeth Rhodus, PhD, MS, OTR/L). Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, Brooks Rehabilitation. Title: Independence Day: IRF to Home Transition.

(Mentor: Susan Stark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA). Jerelyne Idica , OTR/L, CHES, ECHM, Brooks Rehabilitation. Title: Building Research Skills and Competency Through Study of Hospital Readmissions (Mentor: Chiung-Ju Liu, PhD, OTR/L, FGSA).

Janelis Rodriguez, MS, OTR/L, American International College. Title: Assessing Quality of Life and Community Intervention for Migrant Individuals and Families. (Mentor: Mansha Mirza, PhD, OTR/L).

Valencia Steele, PP-OTD, OTR/L, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Title: “ Show me the FACTS” (Functional Assessment of Adolescents Cognitive Skills): Evaluating the goal-directed and life performance of neurodiverse youth. (Mentor: Dorothy Edwards, PhD).

Vanessa Fry, OTD, Thomas Jefferson University. Title: Exploration of Interception as an Approach for Supporting Children with Autism in Navigating Puberty (Mentor: Kristie Patten, PhD, OT/L, FAOTA). Grace Muppidi, OTD, Boston University.

Title: The Caregiver Resilience Education (Ca. R. E.)

Program (Mentor: Ricardo Carrásco, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA). Rachel Ohene, MOT, Liberate Healing and Consulting. Title: The Occupation of Participating in Healthcare for Pregnant and Postpartum People of Color (Mentor: Leanne Yinusa-Nyahkoon, ScD, OTR/L).

Adrienne Smiley, OTD, University of Pittsburgh. Title: Pharmacoepidemiology, Carcinogenesis, and Oncology Rehabilitation: Imperatives for Occupational Therapy (Mentor: Kathleen Lyons, OT, ScD, OTR). Christopher Gaskins, MS, OTR/L, Howard University.

Title: An Examination of the Production and Employment Trends of Black Occupational Therapists Who Attended an HBCU or non-HBCU (Mentor: Moses Ikiugu, PhD, OTR/L). Joanne Oates-Toussaint, PP-OTD Student, Temple University. Title: Completion of a Culturally Responsive International Fieldwork II Curriculum to Increase Cultural Humility Among OT Students.

(Mentor: Lilian Magalhaes, PhD). Lena Gipson Showalter, OTD, Methodist University. Title: Through the Looking Glass, Modified PARCs Assessment Tool to Demonstrate Preliminary Evidence of Construct and Content Validity and Inter-Rater Reliability.

(Mentor: Jana Iverson, PhD). Shanteria Carr, OTD, OTR/L , Howard University. Title: Promoting Culturally Responsive Mentoring Among Occupational Therapy Students from Historically Marginalized Groups.

(Mentor: Linda DeAngelo, PhD). National Science Foundation (NSF). Retrieved Feb.

2, 2026, from https://ncses. nsf. gov/pubs/nsf21321/report/field-of-degree-minorities#persons-with-disability Bureau of Health Workforce | Health Resources and Services Information (HRSA).

Retrieved Feb. 2, 2026, from https://bhw. hrsa.

gov/glossary#m s DONATE online or use this form and mail with your gift to: AOTF, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, Suite 520 Rockville, MD 20852