Bring Your Research Project to SPARK
SPARK connects MSU students with researchers around meaningful, data-driven projects. If you are a MSU researcher with a health research, evaluation, communications, or related initiative that could benefit from student support, we invite you to share your idea with us.
What Types of Projects are a Good Fit?
From research to data visualization, students can contribute to a wide range of research projects.
Data Analysis
Analyze, organize, or summarize community health data to identify local trends, patterns, and disparities.
Literature Reviews
Review existing research, evidence-based practices, and successful approaches related to a specific health or community topic.
Visual Resources
Create public-facing reports, dashboards, infographics, presentations, fact sheets, or other materials that make information easier to understand and use.
Survey and Data Collection Design
Develop surveys, interview guides, focus group questions, or other tools for collecting community input and research data.
How it Works
A simple process to connect MSU researcher-led projects with students.
Submit your project idea.
Complete the MSU Researcher Opportunity Submission Form to tell us about your project and the type of support you need.
We review the opportunity.
Submitted opportunities will be reviewed to better understand the project scope, timeline, student role, skills needed, and potential fit.
Students explore opportunities.
Approved opportunities are shared in the MSU Researcher Opportunities Portal, where students can explore available projects.
Collaboration begins.
When a student expresses interest in a project, we will help connect the student, researcher, and any other relevant faculty or project mentors to discuss next steps.
What makes a strong project submission?
A strong project submission includes a clear description of the research need, the type of student support requested, any expected timeline, and the skills that may be useful for the project. It is also helpful to identify what the student may produce by the end of the project, such as a report, presentation, dataset, literature review, evaluation summary, infographic, or other deliverable.
When can I expect to be connected with a student?
We aim to connect researchers with interested students as soon as possible. The timing of a match will depend on student availability, qualifications, interests, and how well a student’s skills align with the needs of your project. Because these factors can vary throughout the academic year, we cannot guarantee a specific timeline, but we will work to identify a strong match when an appropriate student becomes available.