Early-Career Research Excellence Award Grant

The Early-Career Research Excellence Award, established by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation in 2019, recognizes and supports promising investigators advancing knowledge in occupational therapy. Recipients receive a $5,000 honorarium and present their research at the AOTA Inspire Annual Conference. Eligibility includes being a certified occupational therapist with a doctoral degree and within six years post-degree. This award aims to highlight research that impacts health and practice in the field.

Advancing the Science of Occupational Therapy
It serves the public interest by supporting occupational therapy research and increasing public understanding of the important relationship between everyday activities (occupations) and health. It accomplishes its aims primarily through grants and scholarships, through programs, and through publications such as the quarterly journal, OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research.
Purpose
To recognize and support investigators who are contributing and have promise to advance knowledge in the field of occupational therapy.
Expectations of Award Recipient:

• Receive a $5,000 honorarium;

Attend the AOTA Inspire Annual Conference & Expo and make a 30 minute presentation on research accomplishments to date at the AOTF Research Excellence Symposium.
Submit a manuscript of their presentation for possible publication in OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, subject to the policies of OTJR and with final approval of its Editor-in-Chief.

Eligibility

Nominee must be a certified occupational therapist.
Nominee must have a research-based doctoral degree or clinical doctorate with demonstrated research experience.
Nominee must be up to, but no more than, 6 years post-completion of doctoral degree. If the nominee has more than one doctoral degree, the 6-year post-doctoral degree requirement will begin from the first doctoral degree.
If a nominee has had an interruption in career path during the 6-year eligibility timeframe, a one page letter detailing this interruption may be submitted and considered to determine nominee eligibility for this award.
Nominee must show research accomplishments that have promise to contribute to advancing knowledge in the field of occupational therapy as demonstrated by grant awards, publications, and presentations. The nominee must show promise to complete research that will have an impact on improving practice and health (e.g., has promise to make a difference in the field or for people receiving occupational therapy).
Candidates may self-nominate.
Individuals nominated but not selected may be re-nominated in succeeding years, if eligible.