Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research

The Merit Switzer Research Fellowships for Doctoral Dissertation Research are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Community Living’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). The program is forecasted for the 2026 fiscal year under opportunity number HHS-2026-ACL-NIDILRR-SFGE-0210. The fellowship program honors the contributions of Dr. Mary E. Switzer by fostering the growth of new disability and rehabilitation researchers. NIDILRR plays a key role in advancing scientific understanding and applied knowledge in rehabilitation, independent living, and other experiences and outcomes of individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this fellowship is to build research capacity by supporting doctoral candidates as they conduct their dissertation research. Fellows must conduct original research focusing on one or more of NIDILRR’s three outcome domains: community living and participation, employment, and health and function. The fellowship program is designed to develop future leaders in the field by supporting emerging scholars who can contribute to evidence-based practices and improved outcomes for people with disabilities. Funding for this program is structured to support four individual awards during the 2026 cycle. The estimated total program funding is $180,000, with individual awards expected to range from $40,000 to $45,000. Each fellowship will fund a single 12-month project period. Because the award is made directly to individuals rather than institutions, applicants cannot request institutional indirect costs, and institutions cannot serve as the primary applicant. Fellowship funds are considered taxable income, and applicants should prepare accordingly. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited exclusively to individuals. Only doctoral candidates may apply, and applicants must provide documentation of their academic status at the time of submission. U.S. citizenship is not required, but non-U.S. citizens must provide documentation confirming their eligibility to receive research funding directly from a U.S. government agency. Institutions, organizations, and other entities are not eligible. Applicants themselves must complete and sign all application forms, not their institutions. These strict eligibility rules ensure that the fellowship remains an individual award supporting personal research capacity development. The forecasted timeline for the 2026 competition begins with the estimated posting date of November 3, 2025. Applications are expected to be due on January 5, 2026. The estimated award date is September 1, 2026, with projects beginning the same day. The program is expected to recur annually, with future opportunities following a similar cycle. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, and applicants are encouraged to review all application materials carefully and ensure compliance with requirements. No pre-application deadlines such as letters of intent are specified. Applications will be reviewed based on the quality and relevance of proposed research in relation to NIDILRR’s outcome domains, the qualifications of the applicant, and the potential impact of the research on improving outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The Administration for Community Living has designated Linda Vo as the point of contact for this funding opportunity. She can be reached at (202) 795-7469 or via email at Linda.vo@acl.hhs.gov. Additional guidance is available on the Administration for Community Living’s website at www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants. The archive date for this opportunity is September 30, 2026.