SPARKS | Students and Partners Advancing Research Knowledge and Scholarship
External Partnership – PhD Graduate Assistantship Program
Overview
The University of Cincinnati Graduate College, in partnership with the 1819 Innovation Hub, offers SPARKS, an External Partnership PhD Graduate Assistantship Program that connects UC PhD students with industry, nonprofit and government organizations for semester-long research experiences.
SPARKS provides graduate assistantship support for participating PhD students while creating opportunities for collaboration among students, UC faculty and external organizations.
Through SPARKS, graduate students gain real-world research experience while working with external partners on projects that address complex challenges and advance research, development and innovation.
Program Aims
SPARKS aims to:
- Prepare students for diverse careers through experiential learning.
- Connect external partners with early-career research talent.
- Catalyze research collaboration among UC faculty, students and external organizations.
- Advance research and development for external partners and the university
- Strengthen and expand university-external partnerships.
Program Details
The program supports semester-long PhD graduate student research assistantships with external partners.
Participating organizations and UC faculty should have an identified research project need, an interest in developing emerging student talent and a commitment to building collaborative partnerships.
Student Eligibility
SPARKS participants must:
- Be enrolled full time (12 graduate credit hours) in a UC PhD program.
- Be in good academic standing and meet all other requirements for University Merit-Based Graduate Awards.
- Work with a UC faculty mentor on a research project with an external partner.
SPARKS graduate assistantships may not exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may not accept other teaching or research employment at UC or elsewhere during the assistantship.
The student's stipend will be funded through the SPARKS Program at their home academic unit’s standard GA rate. The home college is expected to provide a 100% graduate scholarship, and the graduate assistant will be eligible for the Graduate Student Health Insurance (GSHI) Award, which covers 100% of the UC Student Health Insurance single-student premium charge.
Hear From SPARKS Participants
SPARKS participants have shared how the experience helped them build new connections, explore career opportunities and apply their expertise in new settings.
The most valuable aspect of the fellowship was the freedom it permitted to explore new connections and project avenues…This fellowship also provided important opportunities for my student to have a better sense for the kinds of positions (and job cultures/requirements/priorities) that are available outside academia.
UC faculty member, 2026
I was able to see how my rhetorical and humanistic knowledge translated to the scientific world and what benefits my skills could bring.
UC PhD student, 2026
Application and Review Timeline
SPARKS opportunities are reviewed on a rolling basis. The primary review of applications for spring semester assistantships will take placeFriday, November 6, 2026. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration for spring semester opportunities.
SPARKS offers two ways to initiate a partnership.
External Organizations
External organizations with a specific research need can explore a research partnership with UC. Organizations do not need to have identified a UC faculty or student partner before reaching out.
Interested external organizations should contact ucsparks@uc.edu. The SPARKS team will schedule a short meeting to learn more about the organization's research needs and discuss potential opportunities for collaboration.
The program is intended to support research engagement that may serve as a foundation for a longer-term partnership.
Interested in partnering with UC? Contact ucsparks@uc.edu to get started.
UC Faculty
Full-time tenure-track UC faculty members can initiate an application when they have already identified:
- A PhD student
- An external partner
- A proposed joint research project that could lead to continued research collaboration
Learn more and apply on Bearcats Landing
About the Partnership
SPARKS brings together the Graduate College and the 1819 Innovation Hub to create new opportunities for research collaboration and graduate student professional and career development.
The Graduate College supports graduate education and student success across the university, working with academic programs, faculty and campus partners to advance graduate education, strengthen professional and career development opportunities and support an inclusive graduate community. The 1819 Innovation Hub helps connect UC research and innovation with external organizations and supports opportunities to translate university expertise into real-world applications.
Together, the Graduate College and 1819 Innovation Hub connect graduate students, UC faculty and external partners around research projects that can advance innovation, strengthen partnerships and prepare students for diverse career paths.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Stephanie Rollmann, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, and Patrick Brown, Director of commercialization, 1819 Innovation Hub, at ucsparks@uc.edu.
Additional Information for UC Faculty and Staff
UC faculty and staff can find additional SPARKS program information and resources on Bearcats Landing.