Career Development Award
The AAO Career Development Award supports optometric faculty in launching independent, innovative research projects to boost their competitiveness for major external funding.
Funder: American Academy of Optometry
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Letter of Intent, Career Development Award) | July 2027 (Invited Full Application, Career Development Award)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 per year for up to 2 years (direct costs); renewable once for up to 4 years total; institutional matching funds required (dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000/year).
Summary: Supports optometric faculty in developing independent research careers and increasing competitiveness for major federal funding.
Key Information: Institutional matching funds and AAO Fellowship are required; only one LOI/proposal per cycle per PI.
Description
The Career Development Award is the American Academy of Optometry’s (AAO) flagship scientific research career development grant for optometric faculty. The program is designed to accelerate the trajectory of optometric researchers toward securing large-scale federal funding, addressing the challenge of long timelines to independence for junior optometric investigators. It supports original, innovative, and independent projects led by principal investigators, with the goal of helping recipients become competitive for future extramural funding and strengthening the sustainability of optometric academic institutions. Institutional commitment and matching funds are required, emphasizing the importance of a supportive research environment.
