CHET is pleased to announce recruitment for the fifth cohort of the Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program. SPARK is a dynamic collaboration between the Center for Health Equity Transformation (CHET), the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), the Cardiovascular Disease Research Priority Area, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky,  and other university and philanthropic partners. Participants will be introduced to community-engaged research focused on health disparities/health equity and receive extensive mentorship. Students will identify a research topic, program leaders will assist in identifying mentors, and students will work with their mentorship team to develop a project. Students will conduct this project in a community over the summer, receiving a $5,000 summer stipend to support this research. After implementing the project, participants will meet with their mentors, undertake data analysis and write-up, and present and publish their research in professional settings. 

Any undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University with at least two academic years left until graduation and a GPA of 2.8 or higher are invited to apply for SPARK. Students from underrepresented groups or disadvantaged backgrounds, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, are especially encouraged to apply.

The application deadline is Sept. 18, 2023 . Please submit your application online at the following link: https://medicine.uky.edu/centers/chet/spark-applications. The required application components include:


1. Cover letter (limited to one page) describing your interest in health equity research
2. Resume, including GPA and major
3. A list of three professional references with contact information

4. Unofficial transcript


Click here for more information on the application and program.