Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarships Grant

The Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarships, offered by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, provides a $7,500 annual scholarship for doctoral students completing coursework at accredited institutions. Applicants may receive up to $15,000 in pre-candidacy scholarships and a total of $45,000 throughout their doctoral program. The Foundation encourages research in areas such as acute care, cardiology, pulmonary health, and PT education, fostering a new generation of skilled researchers in physical therapy.

Foundation for Physical Therapy Research
The Foundation for Physical Therapy Research is the only national nonprofit solely dedicated to funding physical therapy research and promising researchers. race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or developmental or physical disabilities.
The Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization governed by a Board of Trustees. Our sole purpose is to fund physical therapy research through grants, scholarships, and fellowships. Through these investments, researchers go on to yield exceptional research that helps us to learn more about the efficacy of physical therapy practices, pioneer breakthrough treatments, and build the evidence-base to define the value of physical therapy among payers, other health care professions, and patients. We create a pipeline for future researchers and sow the seeds for new research to come.
General Information
This $7,500 scholarship is awarded annually to applicants who are completing the coursework phase of their doctoral studies at an accredited academic institution. The award period is from September 1 to August 31.
Applicants may receive up to two pre-candidacy scholarships for a maximum of $15,000 during this phase of their studies.  The maximum number of awards any applicant may receive over their doctoral program is four (two pre-candidacy and two candidacy) for a total of $45,000.
Please see FAQs  for additional guidance.
Foundation Priorities
For 2025, the Foundation specifically encourages applicants who are interested in pursuing academic research in these areas:

• Acute care
• Cardiology and Pulmonary
• PT Education
• Pelvic Health

The Foundation wishes to identify doctoral students that demonstrate a commitment to a career as an academic researcher and educator in an accredited physical therapy education program. These students will also have demonstrated a high potential to become highly qualified, productive researchers with successful research careers.

Eligibility

You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. Note: This link is to become a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).