Butler Summer Institute

January 30, 2026 at noon: Proposals and Mentor Recommendation Forms are due

By March 6, 2026: 2026 Awardees Announced

Butler Summer Institute – Scholars: May 18 – July 17, 2026

2026 BSI Information Packet —The 2026 BSI Information Packet provides an overview of the program (including the responsibilities for both BSI Scholars and Faculty Mentors) as well as the project proposal guidelines, checklist, cover page, and evaluation rubric that the Programs for Undergraduate Research Committee will be using to evaluate the BSI Proposals.
All applicants must include the BSI Cover Page for the type of proposal, CREATIVE or RESEARCH, as the first page of their application. You may access the fillable form via the link above, save it, and then merge it with your final proposal.

BSI Application Guide

BSI 2026 Research Proposal Packet

BSI 2026 Creative Proposal Packet

BSI Faculty Mentor Recommendation

All applicants must have their proposed faculty mentor complete a recommendation form by noon on January 30. To access the recommendation form, click here.
BSI Proposal Evaluation Rubric—To assist applicants in understanding how the Programs for Undergraduate Research Committee will evaluate their proposals, please see the links above for the category of your proposal.

2026 Awardees announced by March 6, 2026

Do you have a research question you would like to pursue? Have you identified a specific contribution you can make to a scholarly conversation? Are you prepared to produce a creative work? If so, then BSI is a program you should definitely consider.

BSI Scholars are typically sophomores or juniors who have completed multiple courses related to the project topic, conducted research in one or more courses, and intend (or are required) to write a thesis.

BSI Scholars do not act independently; thus, consider applying for BSI if you have the time to commit to your own research as well as being an active member in a community of scholars. The program begins mid-May and concludes mid-July. During those weeks, you will live in campus housing, share many meals with BSI students and mentors, participate in a service project, attend events around Indianapolis, work intensely on your project, present your project, and feel an amazing sense of accomplishment at the completion of the Institute. A key component, one you should not overlook, is that we expect you to show interest in the work of your colleagues, listen attentively when they talk about the trials and tribulations of their research, and speak as clearly and simply as possible about your own project that fascinates you but may be quite unfamiliar to others. In other words, be present, be engaged, and be open to all that BSI has to offer. Your participation in BSI is considered to be a full-time job; thus, you may not participate in outside work or take classes during the BSI dates without prior agreement from the Director of the Summer Institute.

If you are confident there is a project you want to pursue and are certain you can devote the time to the Institute, then it’s time to ask: Who among the faculty is the best person to serve as my mentor on this project? For some, a faculty member may have already encouraged you to pursue BSI and so your question has been answered. For others, you may wish to consider mentors who have taught courses relevant to the project you plan to pursue; consider faculty who teach a research methods course, courses that have provided the historical background of your topic, or courses that provide the latest thinking on your topic. Given the nature of the solo project, it is essential that you have completed some combination of courses that focus on research methods, historical overviews, and contemporary perspectives related to your topic. In addition, those courses connect you to faculty who have the expertise you need from a mentor and, just as important, who share your interest in a particular area of inquiry. Those are the faculty you should meet with and talk to about the project you are considering. Ask them for feedback, let them steer you in the direction of a solid question, the right background material, and ultimately a feasible plan for your project. If you feel there is a shared interest in your project, ask them about their interest in and availability to serve as your BSI mentor.

Please note: Students are only eligible to participate in the Butler Summer Institute once during their academic tenure at Butler.

Applicants: Please refer to the BSI Information Packet for detailed information about completing your BSI Proposal and to access the Cover Page that must accompany each application (this information is found in the above tab titled “BSI Information Packet, Proposal Cover Page, and Evaluation Rubric.”

To assist students and mentors in developing projects suitable for BSI, we invite you to review the proposals of past BSI participants. Given that we encourage students from all disciplines to apply to the BSI, we have included as many subject areas as possible. If your discipline is not represented here, please feel free to contact the Faculty Director to see if we have one on file for you to review.

Sample Proposals:

• Astronomy/Physics—Jaclyn McNelis
• Biology— Molly Kubal
• Biochemistry— Jason Garcia
• Creative Art + Design— Belen Sepulveda
• Neuroscience— Lauren Fields