Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship

About this program

The American Occupational Therapy Foundation offers the $5,000 Kielhofner Doctoral Research Scholarship to support doctoral research that advances occupational therapy science and practice, including dissertation expenses, data collection, analysis, materials, and dissemination. Applicants must be licensed occupational therapy practitioners enrolled in a PhD, ScD, or DrPH program, have completed coursework and defended their dissertation proposal, and conduct research on adult mental health or serious mental illness at a U.S. academic institution. Candidates must have appropriate U.S. citizenship or residency/visa documentation, a qualified mental health research mentor, and IRB approval obtained or in process. Applications open January 5, 2027, and are due February 20, 2027.