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Phil & Phyllis Sparling Summer GRA Award

At a Glance

  • Eligibility: One research assistantship and fees for a summer term at one-half time (1/2) support is awarded to a kinesiology graduate student in exercise science who has completed at least one semester of doctoral study. Preference will be given to those in exercise physiology and/or exercise psychology. An individual may receive the award only once; the reward is non-renewable.

  • Major: Exercise science (preference given to those in exercise physiology and/or exercise psychology)

  • Department: Kinesiology

  • How to apply: Applications must be submitted by February 1. Application submissions are electronic, and applicants are required to upload the following materials:

    • A brief proposal of not more than two pages with the rationale, specific aim(s), the approach, and expected outcome(s) of the project
    • Curriculum vitae (limit to two pages)

    The completed application will also need to include a letter of support from the student’s advisor. Applications will be reviewed by a committee appointed by the department head and evaluated on overall quality, including factors such as research design and methodology, innovation, integration across disciplines, and applicability to real-world settings.

    Once the project is completed, the recipient(s) will provide a concise final product to their faculty advisor, department chair, development office, and sponsor (the Sparlings), preferably in the format of a publication or otherwise in the form of a five-page report describing the work, the results, and a discussion of the results. If the final report is not completed by the end of the calendar year, a written update on the status of the report will be submitted by the student and advisor to all parties by January 15.

Apply now

Fund Purpose

The purpose of this unique summer assistantship is to boost research skills among outstanding doctoral students conducting exercise science investigations in human subjects (not animal studies) in the Department of Kinesiology.

About the Donors

This notable award was established in 2021 by alumni Phillip B. and Phyllis H. Sparling. Phillip Sparling, a leading scholar in kinesiology, was the first Distinguished Alumni Speaker in 2015.
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