Take the next step on your journey toward an impactful career in disability-related research! AFB’s Research Fellowship Program is a rare opportunity for graduate students and recent graduates who are blind or low-vision to work and learn alongside professional blind researchers.

The program offers an authentic experience to join an active research team whose work directly influences disability policies. In addition to working part-time in AFB’s research team, fellows receive individualized career development guidance from our Ph.D.-trained blind researchers.

What Will You Gain?

  • Immersive, Impactful Research Experience: Join our research team, where you will help design research projects as well as collect and analyze data to advance AFB’s mission.
  • Boost Your Portfolio: Co-author research publications and conference presentations to build up your CV/resume, making you more competitive for job opportunities.
  • Learn from Blind Researchers: Our Ph.D.-trained blind research staff will show you how to use accessible data analysis software and how to overcome challenges in the research field related to blindness and low vision.
  • Networking: Attend a research or policy conference, sponsored by AFB, and meet disability research leaders.

What to Expect

AFB’s Research Fellowship offers an opportunity for blind and low-vision emerging researchers to gain direct experience working on disability-related research projects and to learn from blind mentors. Fellows are expected to participate fully in all program activities as described below.

Benefits:

AFB Research Fellows will be offered part-time employment with AFB, which provides the following benefits:

  • Competitive Compensation: $30 per hour for Fellows without a doctoral degree and $40 per hour for fellows with a doctoral degree.
  • Flexible Work Environment: Balance the Fellowship with other work and school responsibilities by working remotely, with a flexible schedule.

Commitments:

  • Dedicate 5-10 hours per week to AFB Research Fellowship activities from September through June, including research team work, weekly mentor meetings, and career development activities agreed-upon in your personalized mentoring plan.
  • Maintain reliable access to a computer and the Internet.
  • Attend one AFB-approved research or policy conference.
  • Adhere to AFB’s employment policies and ethical standards.

Fellowship Selection Criteria

Fellows are selected through an application and interview process. To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

  • Be a current graduate student (master’s, Ph.D., Ed.D., Psy.D., etc.) or have recently graduated with a master’s or doctoral degree with less than 3 years of post-graduation research experience.
  • Have at least 1 semester of experience doing human subjects research.
  • Self-identify as a person who is blind or has low vision.
  • Be authorized to work in the United States.

Note: The AFB Research Fellowship program is a highly competitive experience with limited seats available. Priority will be given to applicants residing in the following geographic areas: DC Metro (VA/MD/DC); WV area (WV/KY); NY Metro (NY/NJ); Pennsylvania; Florida.

Selection Process

  • Application Window: June 16 — July 18, 2025
  • Notification of Shortlist: No later than August 1, 2025
  • Interviews: August 4 - 14, 2025
  • Final Selection Announcements: August 15, 2025

How to Apply

Ready to take the next step in your research career? Interested parties, please follow the link below and fill out our application form.

Apply Now

Need Assistance?

If you have any questions about the application process, you may contact us at research@afb.org.