The Ball State Department of Chemistry offers a robust summer research program in Chemistry and Biochemistry with a roster of 30-40 student participants each summer.
Participation in a research program can be one of the most transformative educational experiences for undergraduate students. Our graduating seniors frequently report that their participation in undergraduate research was the most engaging part of the chemistry experience.
The Chemistry Research Immersion Summer Program (CRISP) is open to all students who have completed one or more years of college-level chemistry. CRISP participants work side-by-side with one or more departmental faculty on an ongoing original research project. Students in the program have the opportunity to:
- learn the process of real scientific research
- explore scientific questions by working in a research group alongside other student researchers under the skilled guidance of a faculty research mentor
- gain high-end technical lab skills typically unavailable in standard lab courses
- develop critical experience in operating sophisticated scientific instrumentation
- learn how to present their scientific discoveries (research) both to their peers in the program and to the larger scientific community
Financial Aid and Credit
Applications are open to all students, regardless of major or class standing. Depending on the amount of funding, we may be able to offer a small stipend to help support some students during CRISP. Students accepted into the program who are not offered a stipend may still participate in CRISP on an unpaid basis and will be eligible to earn academic credit for their research efforts.
Support CRISP
If you would like to support the CRISP efforts financially in order to make this high-impact experience available to more students, please contact Dr. Rob Sammelson, Chair of the Department of Chemistry
Apply to the Program
Are you interested in this distinctive opportunity to do research? Please inquire about our application in the Foundational Sciences Building, room 417.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying for CRISP is easy. Early in the spring semester, we will post the application form. Download and print out the form and return the completed application to our office (Foundational Sciences, Room 417). That's all there is to it. Generally, admission decisions are made during early April, and you will be notified of the decision of the selection committee.
CRISP occurs during the 10-week summer session. You may elect to participate in only a portion of the program if you have scheduling conflicts.
Note: If you are available for the entire 10 week program, you are more likely to be selected to participate. Please see the academic calendar for detailed date information for the summer sessions.
We will try to provide a stipend to help support some of our CRISP participants during the program. The amount of any offered stipend will depend on how much time you have available to commit to the program. Students accepted into the program who are not offered a stipend may still participate in CRISP on an unpaid basis. These students will be eligible to earn academic credit for their research efforts.
CRISP participants are eligible to receive academic credit for their work in the program. This credit will appear on your transcript as "Chemistry Research" and is a great way to make an immediate impression on potential employers and graduate and professional school admissions committees. The amount of credit that you qualify for will depend on how much time you have available to commit to the program.
Yes. Many CRISP participants enroll in other courses during the summer session. However, enrolling in other courses will reduce the amount of time you have available to commit to the program and will reduce the size of your stipend and the number of academic credits you are eligible to receive.
We select the students whom we will mentor from those who apply to the program. If there is an area of chemistry that is particularly interesting to you, please indicate this on your application.
If you are interested in working with a particular faculty mentor, please make an appointment with your mentor to determine if he or she is willing to work with you. Consult our faculty directory for contact information.
In general, full-time participants in CRISP are expected to work from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a break for lunch. If you're only working part-time, you are expected to work fewer hours each week. You and your mentor will determine your work schedule.
Yes. Every year we have participants who are not chemistry majors or attend another academic institution.