Butler University has been selected as a 2026 awardee of the prestigious Beckman Scholars Program, an honor that recognizes institutions with a strong commitment to undergraduate research in the chemical and life sciences. The announcement was made by the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, which selected 14 colleges and universities nationwide through a highly competitive, expert-reviewed process.
As a Beckman Scholars Program awardee, Butler will receive funding to support six undergraduate Scholar–Mentor pairs over a three-year period. Each year, two exceptional undergraduate students will be named Beckman Scholars and will engage in intensive, 15-month mentored research experiences alongside Butler faculty. The program is designed to immerse students in sustained, high-impact research early in their academic careers—often shaping future paths toward graduate study, professional school, or research-focused careers.
“Fostering undergraduate researchers and inspiring them to explore new ideas and experiences through mentoring is central to our Beckman Scholars Program,” said Dr. Anne Hultgren, Executive Director and CEO of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. “We are proud to celebrate the 2026 Beckman Scholars Program awardee institutions and look forward to welcoming their aspiring young scientists as Beckman Scholars.”
Butler’s selection reflects the University’s long-standing emphasis on faculty-mentored undergraduate research as a core component of a Butler education—and a key priority within the Boldly Butler strategy. Through structured programs, individualized mentorship, and access to advanced research facilities, Butler students collaborate closely with faculty on original investigations in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, physics and astronomy/astrophysics, and related interdisciplinary areas spanning the chemical and life sciences, gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for lifelong success in research, graduate study, and scientific leadership.
The Beckman Scholars Program aligns closely with Butler’s broader undergraduate research ecosystem, which emphasizes sustained inquiry, close faculty relationships, and real-world impact. Beckman Scholars are expected to devote significant time to their research projects, present their findings at national conferences, and contribute meaningfully to their fields of study while still undergraduates.
The 2026 Beckman Scholars Program includes more than $2.1 million in total funding nationwide and will support 84 undergraduate researchers across the selected institutions. Butler joins a distinguished cohort that includes leading public and private universities and nationally recognized liberal arts colleges.
By earning this designation, Butler University continues to strengthen its national profile in undergraduate research and expands transformative learning opportunities that prepare students to contribute to scientific discovery and innovation.
More information about Butler’s Beckman Scholars Program and undergraduate research opportunities is available through the University’s undergraduate research website.