Students Preparing for Academic-Research Careers (SPARC) Award

SPARC Resources

Purpose

The Students Preparing for Academic-Research Careers (SPARC) Award aims to cultivate student interest in pursuing

a research doctorate (PhD) in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and
a career as a faculty-researcher in CSD.

Twelve awards of $1,000 each will be granted, including up to two awards dedicated to students attending master’s and baccalaureate universities. Preference will be given to those applications that focus the mentored teaching and/or research component on the following:

Clinical Practice Research. Clinical practice research in CSD is distinct from research aimed primarily at understanding the mechanisms underlying normal or disordered processing. Rather, it refers to research that focuses on the prevention, diagnostics, treatment, implementation, and outcomes measurement of communication, swallowing, and balance disorders. Clinical practice research, due to its applied nature, has the potential to impact clinical practice in the near term.
Culture, Language, and Identity. Individuals’ lived experiences, communication profiles, and cultural backgrounds shape how they learn and participate in educational and clinical settings. This area focuses on how differences in language, worldview, and identity interact with systems not originally designed for all communities. Work includes examining how these systems create barriers to care and education, understanding the impact of those barriers on opportunities and outcomes, and developing practices that more effectively support all learners and clients.
Implementation Science. "Implementation science is the scientific study of variables and conditions that impact changes at practice, organization, and systems levels; changes that are required to promote the systematic uptake, sustainability and effective use of evidence-based programs and practices in typical service and social settings.” (Blasé & Fixsen, 2010, National Implementation Research Network)
Interprofessional Education and Interprofessional Practice (IPE/IPP). ASHA has adapted the World Health Organization's (WHO) definitions of IPE/IPP as follows:
- IPE occurs when two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve outcomes for individuals and families whom we serve.
- IPP occurs when multiple service providers from different professional backgrounds provide comprehensive healthcare or educational services by working with individuals and their families, caregivers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) is defined as the combination of three components: rigorous study of teaching and/or learning, peer review of these studies, and public dissemination of findings to advance pedagogical practice (Shulman, 2004). To this end, SoTL places the focus of education on the learner, investigating the effectiveness of pedagogical approaches to support the transfer of discipline-specific knowledge and subsequent learner success. (Source: CAPCSD SOTL Position Paper, June 2024 [PDF])

SPARC is part of ASHA's Academic and Research Mentoring (ARM) Network. The ARM Network offers programs for those who are considering, launching, and advancing academic-research careers in CSD. ASHA measures the impact of these programs by collecting participant outcomes data.

Program Benefits and Offerings

The SPARC Award provides unique opportunities by offering the following:

Financial resources ($1,000) to pursue individualized mentored teaching and research activities that are associated with your teaching and research goals.
Structured networking opportunities at the ASHA Convention (e.g., meeting fellow SPARC awardees and attending a reception with participants of ASHA's other research education programs).
Formal recognition on the ASHA website.

Eligibility Requirements

Because the SPARC Award is intended to foster student interest in pursuing a PhD, only those students who have been enrolled in or accepted into the following degree program types are eligible:

Undergraduate CSD programs based in the U.S. (current juniors and seniors only)
Post-baccalaureate programs in speech-language pathology based in the U.S., with the further requirements that students:
- will be enrolled in the post-baccalaureate program for at least 1 full academic year after disbursement of SPARC program funds, OR
- have been accepted into a master's program in speech-language pathology that has been accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) AND their mentor is a faculty member at the same program.
Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)-accredited master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology (accepted students or current 1st year students only)
- Students admitted to, or enrolled in, master's degree programs in speech-language pathology are eligible to apply as long as they expect to be enrolled for at least 1 full academic year after disbursement of SPARC program funds. For example, students who are in their second year of a 3-year program, after spending their first year taking prerequisite/leveling classes, would be eligible to apply for SPARC.
CAA-accredited entry-level clinical doctor of audiology (e.g., AuD) programs (accepted students or current 1st or 2nd year students only)

You are not eligible for the SPARC award if you meet the following exclusionary criteria:

Students who have been admitted to, are enrolled in, or have graduated from a doctor of philosophy (PhD) program, including dual-degree programs (e.g., AuD/PhD combined program)
Students admitted to or enrolled in a clinical doctoral degree program in speech-language pathology (e.g., SLPD, CScD)

Participant Requirements

Awardees must be

enrolled in the respective CSD program, full time or part time, for the entire 2026–2027 academic year and
National NSSLHA members (at time of disbursement of funds).

Award requirements are as follows:

Awardees must submit an interim progress report to describe their progress toward the goals in the Mentored Teaching and Research Plan.
Awardees must submit a final report to describe their achievements related to the goals in the Mentored Teaching and Research Plan, to report on expenses, and to reflect on their awardee experience.
Awardees must request and receive approval (in writing from ASHA) prior to acting on any proposed changes to the mentoring plan or budget.
Awardees are required to provide updates on scholarly achievements in the years following participation in this program, when requested. These data are critical for future program planning.
The award is considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and awardees are required to complete a W-9 form before the award is disbursed. An awardee’s amount will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099, and a copy of the form will be sent to the awardee. ASHA does not provide tax advice. For information about tax information and forms, go to the IRS website.

View current and former SPARC Award recipients.

How to Apply

Applicants must do the following:

Complete an online application,
Upload required PDF documents,
Submit the entire application package by the deadline.

The 2026 SPARC Award application period opens on February 15, 2026 and closes on April 30, 2026. See the application instructions for details on the required documents and to access the online application system. ASHA will notify applicants in July and will disburse funding to awardees no later than mid-September, 2026.

Applications are reviewed by individuals holding a PhD and who are at the rank of assistant professor or above. Additional requirements may apply.

If you have questions about applying or are interested in serving as a reviewer, contact the Academic Affairs and Research Education team at aarcsparc@asha.org.