Career Development Award
Forecasted
The Career Development Award from the American Academy of Optometry supports early-career optometric faculty in building independent research programs to compete for major federal grants.
Funder: American Academy of Optometry
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (Letter of Intent) | June 2027 (Full application; invited proposals)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000/year for up to 2 years (direct costs); renewable once for a total of up to 4 years; requires 1:1 institutional matching.
Summary: Supports early-career optometric faculty in the U.S. to build research independence and competitiveness for major federal funding.
Key Information: Institutional matching funds are required; no indirect costs allowed.
Description
The Career Development Award from the American Academy of Optometry is designed to accelerate the research careers of early-stage optometric faculty in the United States. The award aims to reduce the time it takes for junior optometric investigators to secure large-scale federal research funding and to increase the number of optometrists who achieve such support. Funding can be used for salary, research expenses, and professional development, with the goal of fostering independent, PI-driven research that positions recipients for future extramural grants.
