Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK)

# Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge (SPARK) SPARK places Northeast Florida high school students inside working laboratories on Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus. Scholars are matched with Mayo Clinic research mentors and spend the summer - with arranged follow-up time into the fall - conducting an authentic research project in fields spanning biochemistry, drug development, epidemiology, immunology, cancer biology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and regenerative sciences. ## What You'll Do - Work a minimum of 25 hours per week in your mentor's laboratory during summer break - Learn basic science technique, the research process, critical thinking, and professional conduct - Continue arranged project time after school resumes, culminating in early December - Develop your work into a highly competitive science fair project ## Who Should Apply Rising junior and senior high school students in Duval or St. Johns counties, Florida. Selection is extremely competitive and depends on the availability of Mayo Clinic research faculty mentors. For the 2026 cycle, applications ran November 1 - December 31, 2025, with the program running June 2 - December 3, 2026; the next application window typically opens around November 1. ## Outcomes SPARK scholars gain months of mentored research at one of the nation's premier medical centers, a science-fair-ready project, and working relationships with Mayo Clinic scientists - an exceptional launch pad for research-oriented college applications and health science careers.