The Dr. David Krebs Doctoral Research Fund Award
The Dr. David Krebs Doctoral Research Fund was established by family and friends of Dr. Krebs to honor his passion for the rehabilitation sciences. He was first and foremost a physical therapist who was also a biomechanist and who loved to do anything with tools and engineering. In addition, Dr. Krebs was a prolific contributor to research literature with over 200 publications and the recipient of many awards for his important contributions to professional education and research. During his time at the MGH Institute of Health Professions Dr. Krebs was a staunch advocate for a PhD Program. The MGH Institute established a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences in 2012. The Dr. David Krebs Doctoral Research Fund will provide funds to current PhD students to support their scholarly activities and dissemination of research in areas related to motor function. A maximum of one award for $2000 is given each year.
2026 - Meaghan Costello
2025 - Ehsan Sinaei
2025 - Katherine Marie Burke
2024 - Amber LaMarca
2024 - Matthew Picard-Fraser
2023 – Marc F. Maffei
2022 – Michael Kiefer
2022 – Baothy Huynh
2021 – Stephen Wechsler
2020 – Danielle Kline
2020 – Isha Vora
2019 – Hanna Rowe
2018 – Kaila Stipanic
2017 – Emily Evans
2017 – Bridget Perry
2016 – Erin Futrell
2015 – Donna Scarborough
The Gregory L. Lof Dissertation Support Fund Award
In his 20 years at the Institute, Dr. Lof has maintained an unwavering focus on the wellbeing of his students and has strived to ensure they have the resources required to be successful. He understands the importance of financial support as students work toward achieving their aspirations. It is with this devotion to student success that Dr. Lof helped to establish the Gregory L. Lof Dissertation Support Fund as his legacy at the Institute. The fund distributes one award of approximately $1,000 per year to any PhD candidate to support their research dissertation expenses not covered by other sources of funding. All things being equal, a CSD student will receive preference but the award is available to students from all disciplines.
2026 - Ziyi Cao
2025 - Katherine Golden
2024 - Melissa Feller
2023 – Katharine Radville
2022 – Carla Hendricks
2021 – None Awarded
2020 – None Awarded
2019 – None Awarded
2018 – None Awarded
2017 – None Awarded
The Research Mentorship Award
This award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates outstanding mentorship of PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences students. This award honors faculty who provides guidance, support, and encouragement that foster the intellectual growth, independence, and scholarly development of trainees. Nominations may be submitted by current or former students, as well as PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences faculty members, and are reviewed by program leadership with input from supporting letters. Recipients exemplify excellence in research mentorship, making a lasting impact on the training and success of PhD RS students.
2026 - Prudence Plummer
The Distinguished Doctoral Reserach Award
This award honors a student in the final stage of doctoral training who demonstrates outstanding research excellence. All students who have successfully defended their dissertation plan (prospectus) and are actively conducting dissertation research are eligible. Recipients are selected through a competitive nomination process, with nominations reviewed by program leadership and supported by letters from mentors. This award recognizes research that is innovative, methodologically rigorous, and impactful, representing the highest standard of scholarly achievement in the program.
2026 - Katherine Golden
The Best Research Poster/Presentation Award
This award recognizes outstanding early research dissemination by a PhD trainee. All current PhD students who participate in the annual PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences Research Presentation Day are eligible. This award honors students who demonstrate excellence in communicating their research, combining scientific rigor with clarity, creativity, and insight. Awardees are selected based on the quality of their visual and verbal presentation and how effectively they convey the significance, methodology, and impact of their work. A winning presentation reflects strong scholarly understanding and the skill to engage and inform an audience. This award highlights research that is innovative, clinically or theoretically impactful, and clearly communicated.
2026 - Hengru Estelle Liu
2026 - Jameson Crawford Cooper