Student Partners in Academic Research and Knowledge

Student Partners in Academic Research and Knowledge (SPARK) provides first- and second-year students with the opportunity to contribute to the research and creative work of faculty. View Spring 2025 SPARK projects here.

As a SPARK fellow, you’ll be an active collaborator in an ongoing research or creative project, gaining hands-on experience while working side-by-side with a faculty mentor. You’ll develop meaningful professional relationships, and gain versatile and valuable skills that will benefit you in both college and career settings.

In this one-semester program, you will:

• Meet with a faculty mentor weekly.
• Complete at least four hours of work toward the project each week.
• Receive a $500 stipend.

You can only participate in SPARK once throughout your time at AU. Students interested in continuing the project beyond the SPARK semester may discuss options with their faculty mentor to do so as an independent study or as part of an existing research-based course.

Are you interested in participating in SPARK or have questions?

Please contact Libby Escobedo, SPARK program coordinator and professor of art history, at lescobed@aurora.edu or 630-844-3829. Applications are no longer being accepted for Spring 2025. Check back next year for application information.

My SPARK experience was very interactive and collaborative. I learned how to conduct research in new ways and made useful and valuable contributions. Reese Mahoney '27, Finance and Biology double major