SPARK Research Mentorship Program at Mayo Clinic in Florida

Science Program for the Advancement of Research Knowledge

2018 Program Overview

The mission of the SPARK Research Mentorship Program at Mayo Clinic in Florida is to provide high
school students in Duval and St. Johns counties mentored research experiences in world class laboratories
at Mayo Clinic in Florida which will help them develop a basic understanding of scientific research and
produce a highly-competitive science fair project.

Eligibility and Opportunity:

High school students in Duval and St. Johns Counties who are interested in biomedical science
will be provided an opportunity to design and carry out research projects within world class
research laboratories in the Discovery and Translation Labs at Mayo Clinic in Florida (4500 San
Pablo Road, Jacksonville FL 32224). Students will conduct majority of the research during the
summer break (20 hours/week) and use lab time as needed once school resumes, through end
of calendar year or school science fair, whichever occurs first.

Selection process:
1. The process is competitive and dependent upon faculty mentor availability. The number of
students selected per year will be based on the participation of faculty mentors. Faculty mentors
from Mayo Clinic will provide a general overview of the research and techniques available for
students to pursue in their laboratories on their lab websites listed in the Program Overview.
Information will be provided to members of the Jacksonville Joe Berg Seminar Series, and highly-
qualified students in all Duval and St. Johns County schools as outlined in the Initial Prescreening
criteria.

Using the Mayo Clinic Program Abstract Form, students will write a one-page research abstract of
original research that they wish to pursue which follows the guidelines of the International Science
and Engineering Fair (ISEF), and also identify a laboratory in which to work. The websites for
eligible laboratories are provided to students on the last page of this document. It is recommended
that students write a second one-page research abstract as a backup, selecting a second laboratory
in case their first-choice laboratory selects another candidate.

2. Initial prescreening
a. Membership in the Joe Berg Seminar Series
b. Enrolled in Duval County or St. Johns County school district,
c. All students must meet the following criteria in order to apply:
 Enrolled as a junior or senior at a Duval or St. Johns County high school for the
2018-2019 school year
 Minimum of 3.5 unweighted GPA
 Letter of Recommendation from current high school science teacher
 Letter of Recommendation from current high school guidance counselor and/or
other personnel as determined by school district
 3. A Mayo Clinic committee will select high-qualified candidates for interviews based on the number
of faculty mentors. The final screening will include one-on-one interviews with the faculty mentors
with each mentor making the final selection of an applicant to mentor.

Deadlines and Events:

The selection process is designed to allow students time to develop competitive projects for high school
science fairs.

1. January 22, 2018. Yearly announcement and circulation of Mayo Mentors and projects within
each Mayo lab.
2. February 23, 2018. Completed application packets from students are due. (See checklist)
3. March 5, 2018. Score proposals and invite finalists for interviews.
4. March 8-16, 2018. Candidates interview with Mayo faculty mentor.
5. March 19, 2018. Students will be notified of SPARK application status.
6. April 6, 2018. All pre-internship required documents submitted.
7. June 4, 2018. Orientation and safety training modules on Mayo Clinic campus* Required
8. August 3, 2018. Event- SPARK Student Research Presentations* Required
9. November 19, 2018. SPARK Mini Science Fair at Mayo Clinic* Required

Length of project may last until time of Science Fair and into district and National competition if the
project continues to progress. Students must complete safety training and receive Mayo badge
before beginning research in lab.

Expectations of Students
1. Prior to beginning work in the lab, students will be required to complete online lab safety training
modules and additional instructions as determined by faculty mentor and lab supervisor.
2. Lab notebooks will be maintained as documentation of experiments.
3. It is expected that a minimum of 20 lab hours per week (weekdays and/or weekends) will be
required during the summer break for a successful project to be completed for deadlines of the
Science Fair. When school resumes, a flexible schedule will be determined and agreed upon
between the student and faculty mentor.
4. Student must compete in either the Northeast Florida Regional Science Fair or the St. Johns
County Science Fair. If the student attends a DCPS school, then the student also needs to
submit to the DCPS Secondary Science Fair in January 2019.
5. Students are expected to compete in the State and international science fairs, if their projects are
selected.
6. Students are responsible for their own transportation.
7. Ensure that daily supervision is provided in the lab before work begins.
8. Note the REQUIRED training and events in Deadlines and Events section

Expectations of Mentors
1. Early meetings to guide and assist student in design of their project.
2. Assign someone in the laboratory for daily mentoring/guidance.
3. Meet at least once every 2 weeks to review progress.
4. Provide adequate space and resources to student while in the lab, to complete research for science
fair project.

Reasons for Dismissal (this is meant to be helpful and constructive in nature and an
important learning experience for the student)
1. Mentor’s assessment that the student lacks maturity and responsibility.
2. Student making no progress with project.
3. Student lacks regard for lab safety protocols.
 4. Student fails to meet time requirements for research project.

In Florida, teams of scientists and physicians conduct research with the goal of improving patient care.
Their focus is finding new and better ways to predict, prevent, diagnose and optimally treat complex brain
conditions, cancer and several other conditions. Guided by unmet patient needs, researchers work
collaboratively in laboratories and on clinical trials and epidemiological studies to turn promising
discoveries into effective treatments.
http://www.mayo.edu/research/florida

For program information, visit www.mayo.edu/spark or email FlaSPARK@mayo.edu

Participating Labs for 2018

1. John “Al” Copland, III, Ph.D.

2. Delisa Fairweather, Ph.D.
3. Alan Fields, Ph.D. and Verline Justilien, Ph.D.
4. Hugo Guerrero Cazares, M.D., Ph.D. and Rachel Sarabia Estrada, D.V.M., Ph.D.
5. Baoan Ji, M.D., Ph.D.
6. Keith Knutson, Ph.D.
7. Pam J McLean, Ph.D.
8. Dev Mukhopadhyay, Ph.D.
9. Aneel Paulus, M.D., Ph.D. /Asher A. Chanan-Khan, M.D. Lab
10. Evette S. Radisky, Ph.D.
11. Abba Zubair, M.D., Ph.D.