American Academy of Optometry Career Development Award

About this program

The American Academy of Optometry Career Development Award provides optometric faculty with up to $50,000 per year in direct costs for two years, potentially renewable once for a maximum of $200,000, to accelerate attainment of large-scale federal research funding (no indirect costs provided). Priority is given to faculty at U.S. schools and colleges of optometry; allowable expenses include PI/staff/student salary, research costs, and other justified items subject to Board approval. Applicants must be Fellows of the AAO holding full‑time assistant or associate professor appointments, with their institution providing dollar‑for‑dollar matching funds (new to the researcher) up to $50,000/year and a letter confirming commitment and at least six months projected research time. Applicants with prior major federal awards (e.g., NIH R01/R21/R34/U10, NSF, VA Career Development, DOD) are ineligible; NIH K awardees may apply with minimal project overlap, a required LOI establishes eligibility, and only a single PI is allowed.