AAOF Jill and George Mertz Fellowship

The AAOF Jill and George Mertz Fellowship is designed to help transition the best and brightest clinician-optometrists with exceptional potential into a career which includes research and academic optometry. This up-to 2-year fellowship will be awarded congruent with enrollment into a vision or related biomedical science PhD program. High achieving 4th year OD students as well as applicants who are currently in/have completed a residency or currently employed as a clinician-optometrist are highly encouraged to apply. Must be completing or have completed clinical training leading to an optometry degree. Although not required, some priority may be given to those with optometry training at a North American school/college of optometry. Individuals who have already completed some of a PhD program are not eligible.

Awardees will receive $15,000 (US dollars) upon beginning their first year of training, and if they demonstrate sufficient success (as described within their progress report, see below) during this initial year, they will receive an additional $15,000 (US dollars) upon beginning their second year of training. All monies will be distributed directly to the recipient. The awardee is free to use these funds how they wish (e.g. repay their loans, supplement stipend, tuition expenses, etc.). AAOF will issue the awardee a 1099 tax form and report the amount to the IRS. Awardees are encouraged to contact a tax consultant for further tax implications.