Spark! Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship

Photo by Tom Arban Photography and Nic Lehoux


Position Summary

Spark! Post-Baccalaureate Fellows provide support for four experiential learning courses (two in the fall and two in the spring). In addition to supporting coursework during the academic year, this position continues in the summer with support for a summer internship program and activities related to preparation for the academic year. Fellows will work under the direction of members of the Spark! leadership team and faculty to mentor and coordinate the activities of the undergraduate members of the teaching team (such as product/project managers and technical product/project managers), and perform administrative duties such as working with external partners to scope projects, track project progress and milestones and ensure quality project completion, supervise student project managers and technical project managers, and more. Fellows may also have the opportunity to conduct supervised research with faculty or external partners in their area of interest. Appointments are full-time for one year (June 2026-May 2027), with the possibility of renewal for one additional year, based on performance, and institutional need. Spark! Will make final decisions regarding renewal.  Compensation for the 2026-2027 academic year is $60,000 and benefits as described here.

To apply, please submit an application at this link, which will include a letter of interest (including an outline of career objectives and any experience with Spark! and relevant project oversight, teaching or research experience), a current CV, and the names of two references who would recommend you for this role.

For candidates who are asked to continue, the application process will also include two performance tasks related to project scoping and management, and interviews with the Spark! Team. 

The deadline to submit all materials is April 17, but review of applicants will begin immediately, and decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Detailed Responsibilities and Opportunities include: 

Spark! Post-Baccalaureate Fellows will provide project and course support for a portfolio of Spark! managed practicum courses under the and the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences. These courses make up the Spark! X-Lab, which serves students from computer science and cognate departments. 

  • Project Development: Supporting project requirements gathering by engaging with clients to define goals, success metrics, researching relevant papers and case studies to guide methods, collecting and researching data sets, and compiling all relevant background information for X-Lab projects within a specific portfolio of courses. 
  • Project Implementation: Mentor and coordinate activities of the undergraduate members of the teaching team (product/project managers and technical product/project managers) to successfully guide student teams through the project implementation process, including meeting core milestones, engagement with external clients, ensuring a quality experience for partners and students, and successful achievement of project goals and deliverables. This includes hosting weekly check-ins and office hours for members of the course instruction team and student teams.
  • Operational Oversight: Manage administrative tasks for project implementation and team support, including the setup and management of Trello, Slack communication channels, GitHub, etc. Collaborate with course instructors and Spark! staff throughout the semester, participating in student interviews, hiring, evaluations, and support.
  • Summer: Supporting the Spark! Team to prepare for the academic year, work actively alongside student teams on exploratory applied research projects, and pursue independent research.

Fellows will be provided with approximately 10% time to pursue independent research or coursework. Strong preference will be given to students who have worked on projects or as a PM/ TPM in BU Spark!’s X-Lab – through courses or internships. 

FAQ

How long is the program/position?

  • The role is for 1 year with the option to renew for a 2nd year (decision will be made by Spark! based on performance, budget, and programmatic need).

When is the start date?

  • There is some flexibility with the start date, but we are planning on a date in June 2026.

I’m an international student. Can I apply?

  • Yes, you will be able to use your OPT for this position. There is no option to acquire a visa through this role, so international students must have OPT that can be used for 1 or 2 years, max.

Is this a full-time position only? Is there an option for PT if I am also getting a degree?

  • This is a full-time position only; there is no option for Part-time. Fellows can pursue a part-time degree while they are working full-time with Spark!, but individuals who are participating in a full-time Master’s program (where you are unable to work full-time) are not eligible.
  • Post-Baccs are awarded 10% time to pursue independent research or coursework; this equates to 4 hours per week.

What is the application process?

    1. Candidates will apply via an Airtable form
    2. Applications will be reviewed by the Spark! Team
    3. Candidates selected to move on will be asked to complete two performance tasks related to project scoping and management
    4. Candidates selected to move on will have an interview with the members of the Spark! team

What will the work look like? How is it assigned?

  • To see a description of the role, please review the job description. This role serves as Program lead for two of our practicum courses each semester. In that role they are responsible for ensuring high-quality projects are scoped and ready for students; they work with clients to ensure they are engaged, supported, and satisfied with the work produced; they oversee and coach student PMs and TPMs assigned to projects in their classes, and overall ensure the quality of projects in our program. In addition, they are full members of the Spark! Team, participating as appropriate in all aspects of Spark! Programs.
  • When hiring for these positions, the Spark! Team will look for applicants with skills in the areas covered by our practicum courses. You will be hired with a course assignment in mind, but there is flexibility depending on the skills of the cohort and the needs of the courses. Regarding projects overseen by this role, the Post-Bacc will be actively involved in the projects that are scoped and prepared for classes.

    Does this role help fund Master’s degree?

    • In this role, you would be a full-time BU employee. As such, you will have access to tuition remission, which can greatly reduce the cost of a master’s degree. You can review all benefits information here: https://www.bu.edu/hr/employee-resources/benefits/

      Can I have a summer internship after graduating and still be a Post-Bacc?

      • A lot of important prep for the upcoming school year begins in the summer, so our preference is that Post-Baccs are available to begin their work with us in the summer. If your summer internship is part-time, and you’d be able to start with us in a part-time capacity, that may be an option. Specific situations will need to be reviewed and approved individually.

      Will housing be provided?

      • At this time, we do not have accommodation benefits for this role, but the Spark! Team is actively looking into options for the upcoming year.
        Apply by April 17!