Eligibility
All graduate and professional students at UAB may apply to become a Sparkman Fellow. Undergraduates with junior or senior standing may also apply to become a Sparkman Fellow.
You do not have to be studying a specific area or in a specific degree program to apply for the program.
The Sparkman Fellows program runs along with the academic year -- new Fellows are accepted in the spring to be matched with Scholar mentors and attend orientation over the summer, and then meet with their mentor across Fall and Spring semesters. If you are graduating in the Fall semester, you can still apply to be a Fellow; however, we will prioritize accepting students who can participate in the full-year of the program.
Expectations
- Meet with your Scholar mentor at least once per month across Fall and Spring semesters (8 meetings minimum over the academic year).
- Attend 3 sessions with the Sparkman Center team and the entire Fellows cohort: (1) Orientation, typically in May or June; (2) Fellows kick-off meeting, typically in August; (3) Wrap-up meting, typically in late April or early May.
- Engage with the rest of your cohort in the Sparkman Fellows Canvas course, and submit assignments to Sparkman Center (program goals, mid-point assessment, and final presentation) on time.
- Communicate with your Mentor in a timely manner in order to schedule meetings and follow-up on any projects or tasks
- Balance your global health interests & goals for mentorship with flexibility and openness to ideas for collaboration with your mentor
How to Apply
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now open. Submissions will be accepted until April 1, 2023 at 11:59 PM CST.
If you have questions, please email