International Sonntag Spine Research Fellowship

About the Sonntag Fellowship

The International Sonntag Spine Research Fellowship offers a funded, one-year research opportunity at Barrow Neurological Institute’s Kelly Spinal Biomechanics Laboratory, focusing on non-clinical, laboratory-based spine research. Designed for international spine surgeons or neurosurgery residents from low- and middle-income countries, the fellowship is anticipated to start in July 2027.

Fellows will engage in academic, collaborative learning and research, primarily investigating implantable devices and surgical spinal procedures under the direction of Brian P. Kelly, PhD, in the Sonntag Spine Center. Support will also be provided by the Franke Neuroscience Education Center, Barrow Global, and its partners.

Current Sonntag Fellow Winnie Mapuor, MD, with Laura Snyder, MD.

Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of spinal biomechanics principles, learn advanced laboratory techniques, and take a leadership role in research projects, including data collection, analysis, and presentation. A key component of the fellowship involves disseminating research through abstract submissions to major spine-related conferences (e.g., CNS, NASS, AANS) and publishing in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, with crucial support from Barrow’s Neuroscience Publications Department.

This opportunity does not involve direct patient care or clinical practice, but fellows can augment their clinical learning by attending neurosurgical spine rounds, clinical case conferences, grand rounds, and via observation in Barrow operating rooms. While the role is research-focused, fellows will be expected to contribute clinical insight to novel study designs and interpretation of findings. An ultimate goal is for fellows to be able to take the research principles and methodologies learned during their time at Barrow and apply them to conduct future research projects in their country of origin.