Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2025-26 ($30,000 Award)

If you're a postdoctoral researcher from an underrepresented racial or ethnic background in the health sciences—with a passion for advancing occupational therapy (OT)—this one's for you! The Nancy Talbot Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, established by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) in honor of Nancy Holt Talbot, MEd, OTR, FAOTA, is now seeking applications. This one-year, $30,000 award (with the potential for a competitive second-year renewal) provides crucial support to elevate diversity in OT research and training.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: United States (research must be conducted at a U.S. academic institution)

• Host Institution: Applicant’s U.S. academic institution of choice (with a qualified mentor)

• Study Level: Postdoctoral research training

• Target Group: Individuals from NSF-defined underrepresented racial or ethnic groups: Black or African American; Hispanic or LatinX; American Indian or Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander

• Fields of Research: Occupational therapy research in health-related sciences, with an emphasis on diversity and addressing complex scientific challenges

• Award Value: $30,000 for one year, with possibility of competitive renewal for a second year

• Award Duration: 1 year (renewable for a second year)

• Application Deadline: February 20, 2026

• Application Opens: January 5, 2026 (new application materials will be available in Fall 2025)

• Start Date: Expected mid- to late-2026, following award notification (date not specified)

• Eligible To: Applicants from specified underrepresented groups, with an OT degree and a doctorate (OTD/PhD/DrOT/ScD), conducting research in a U.S. OT department, with IRB approval or in process, U.S. citizen or with appropriate visa/residency status

📚 Fellowship Overview

This fellowship was created to honor Nancy Holt Talbot, MEd, OTR, FAOTA. Talbot earned her OT and M.Ed. degrees from the University of New Hampshire and, after extensive clinical work, devoted her career to academia. She served at the University of New Hampshire, Tufts University, and ultimately as Dean of Sargent College at Boston University until her retirement in 1996. She was also a long-standing contributor to AOTF governance and OT associations, passing away in 2018.

Awardees include:

• 2025: Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L (Washington University in St. Louis) – Asthma Home Occupation-based Modified Environmental Assessment (HOME) 

• 2024: Lindsay Spell, OTD, OTR/L – Pilot HOME Study 

• 2023: Dominique Como, PhD, EdM, OTR/L (University of Pittsburgh) – Experiences of underrepresented older adults in post-acute care 

• 2022: Lady Rios-Vega, OTD, OTR/L (Thomas Jefferson University) – OT services utilization for Black and African American families of children with autism 

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Funding Support: $30,000 for one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year—providing critical funding to pursue meaningful occupational therapy research.

• Diversity Advancement: Actively supports researchers from underrepresented groups to enhance representation and diversity in OT science.

• Career Building: Enables early-career researchers to launch postdoctoral training in OT, fostering innovation and capacity building in the field.

• Networking & Mentorship: Through mentorship within an OT department, fellows gain guidance, academic collaboration, and visibility in OT research communities.

• Legacy & Recognition: Named in honor of Nancy Talbot’s pivotal contributions to OT education and leadership provides prestige and connection to the profession’s history.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

1. Belong to an NSF-recognized underrepresented racial/ethnic group: Black/African American; Hispanic/LatinX; American Indian/Alaska Native; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander

2. Hold an OT degree and a doctorate (PhD, OTD, DrOT, ScD). Non-OT doctorate holders must conduct their postdoc within an OT department

3. Have a mentor with expertise in the research area.

4. Have IRB approval or have IRB in process for their research study before applying

5. Conduct research at a U.S. academic institution.

6. Be a U.S. citizen or possess appropriate residency/visa documentation

📝 Application Procedure

Procedure:

• Track updates in Fall 2025 on the AOTF website for updated application materials.

• Applications open January 5, 2026, with submission deadline on February 20, 2026.

Required Documents (based on prior application cycles—update expected, but likely similar):

• Application form (via AOTF system)

• Applicant NIH-style biosketch (≤ 5 pages, font ≥ 12-pt)

• Mentor NIH-style biosketch (similar parameters)

• Mentor letter of recommendation/commitment

• IRB approval or documentation of IRB in process

• Proof of citizenship or visa/docs

• High-resolution applicant photo (300 DPI, jpg)

• Research proposal/essay aligned with fellowship goals (address diversity, relevance to OT research)

• Budget (if required): funds may support salary primarily; up to 17% may be used for supplies, small equipment, or travel. Mentor may not receive compensation; no tuition coverage.

Applicants should ensure clarity, concise writing, and adherence to all formatting requirements (e.g., font, spacing, document types such as PDF).

🔗 Official Link

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