STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS)
Forecasted
STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship (SMRS) supports OT graduates and clinicians with underrepresented perspectives through mentored research skill development to broaden representation in OT research.
Funder: American Occupational Therapy Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to US $10,000 for a 22-week mentored research experience
Summary: Supports OT graduates and clinicians from underrepresented backgrounds, with disabilities, and/or from under-resourced backgrounds in developing research skills through mentorship.
Key Information: The experience must be at a U.S. nonprofit institution other than your own, with mandatory in-person conference participation.
Description
The STRIDE Mentored Research Scholarship is administered by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) through its Standing for Research Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity committee. It supports occupational therapy graduates and clinicians whose perspectives are underrepresented in OT research, pairing them with researchers at institutions other than their own. The program aims to broaden representation by building research knowledge, skills, networks, and opportunities for future research engagement.
Each experience follows an individualized development plan developed with a mentor. Activities may include literature appraisal, developing research questions, designing methods or protocols, qualitative or quantitative data processing, and research-team collaboration. Experiences may be virtual, with optional visits to the mentor’s lab. The priority is individual research skill development—not completing a new or existing study. The final poster reflects learning, progress, modifications, and next steps toward research goals rather than findings from a completed project.
