LHSI Intern: Beta-cell biology and diabetology research assistant

Program Summary:    

This internship is offered as a part of the Life-Health Sciences Internship Program (LHSI). This program connects 125 IU Indianapolis undergraduates per year with internships on campus with faculty and staff in a variety of health and science related campus areas/programs. All LHSI internships start in August 2026 and end in May 2027 and are paid $14/hour for up to 10 hours per week. Work-study is accepted but not required.  

Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Templin 

Department/Office: Medicine;Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center Medicine, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 

Overview of the internship site: Research in the Templin Lab focuses on understanding the relationship between beta-cell failure and islet immune responses in both major forms of diabetes. The Templin Lab is particularly interested in mechanisms of inflammatory beta-cell death and the role of these in promoting beta-cell loss in diabetes. Our lines of research utilize in vitro models of beta-cell demise and in vivo models of islet amyloid formation, islet inflammation, and beta-cell autoimmunity and cytotoxicity to examine how beta-cells themselves promote islet inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetes. 

Website for more information: https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/12858/templin-andrew 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The beta-cell biology and diabetology research assistant intern will perform in vitro work including genotyping, cell culture, caspase activity and RNA/protein expression assays. They will also perform laboratory upkeep and maintain safety standards. The intern will work closely with Dr. Templin and team. 

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: Pants and close toed shoes are required to be worn in the lab. 

Project-specific qualifications: The intern should display commitment to performing high quality work with attention to detail. Self-motivation, reliability, and effective written and oral communication are desired. 

Hours per week: 7-9; flexible within regular work hours 

By the end of the LHSI program, you will: 

Carefully consider, explore, and articulate your career goals, including an analysis of how you arrived at that path and what steps you need to take next. (Community Contributor, Communicator) 

Understand your role and strengths on a professional team and analyze who you would like to become as a professional. (Communicator) 

Gain and strengthen skills relevant to next steps after graduation, such as communication, collaboration, teamwork, analysis/synthesis/evaluation, independence, confronting/challenging failure, problem-solving and perseverance, and constructive criticism. (Problem Solver, Communicator) 

Convey ideas and knowledge effectively through an ePortfolio and presentation of your internship work. (Problem Solver, Communicator) 

Set and meet your own additional learning goals identified with your supervisor. 

LHSI Qualifications    

must be graduating May 2028 or after (usually a current freshman or sophomore in Spring 2026)   

Current full time IU Indianapolis undergraduate in 2025-26  

minimum overall GPA of 2.0   

All majors welcome 

To apply: 

LHSI accepts 125 interns per year. All available sites are listed in Handshake and will start with the position title “LHSI Intern.” Complete the application for LHSI at go.iu.edu/lhsi and list 3-4 internship sites on that application. You will meet with at least 2 of these if selected for interviews.