How much funding does AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program provide?

AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program provides 30000 in funding.

When is the deadline for AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program?

The funder has not published a deadline for this grant.

Who is eligible for AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program?

Eligible applicants: Individuals. Geography: Florida.

How often is AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program offered?

AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program runs on an annual cycle.

AAOF OD to PhD Fellowship Program

American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc

Foundation Annual Grants for Science Research

Funding Amount

30000

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle: Annual
Tracked since: September 2026

Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

Individuals

Geography

Florida

Not eligible / not funded

Not eligible: candidates must have completed or be completing clinical training leading to an optometry degree and plan to enter a full-time PhD program at a North American institution; those already started in a PhD program, or prior recipients, are not eligible.

Overview

The AAOF OD to PhD Scholarship Program funds optometrists pursuing a PhD in eye-and-vision-related fields (e.g., Vision Science, Physiological Optics, Biomedical Sciences, Public Health, Neuroscience). Each fellowship is a $30,000 award payable over two years ($15,000 in year one, $15,000 in year two upon satisfactory progress). Three named fellowships are offered: two EssilorLuxottica OD to PhD Fellowships, the American Academy of Optometry OD to PhD Fellowship, and the Jill & George Mertz / CCLRT OD to PhD Fellowship (the CCLRT variant requires a cornea/contact-lens/refractive-technology research focus).

How to Apply

Eligibility: candidates must have completed or be completing clinical training leading to an optometry degree and plan to enter a full-time PhD program at a North American institution; those already started in a PhD program, or prior recipients, are not eligible. Applications require an NIH biosketch, Scopus profile, research plan, and institutional confirmation.

Apply with Grantable Learn more

What American Academy of Optometry Foundation Inc actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025: 25
Total given: $225K
Median grant: $8,000
Range: $6,500–$25K

4% of its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, where this grant's project is located.
By dollars: California 15%, Alabama 15%, Massachusetts 7%. Top recipient cities: Birmingham, AL; Bloomington, IN; Redwood City, CA.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
12% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

University of Alabama at Birmingham · Birmingham, AL

Educational scholarship

$25K
Indiana University School of Optometry · Bloomington, IN

Educational scholarship

$13K
Stanford University · Redwood City, CA

Educational scholarship

$10K
University of California - Berkeley School of Optometry · Berkeley, CA

Educational scholarship

$10K
The Ohio State University College of Optometry · Columbus, OH

Educational scholarship

$9,500