LHSI Intern: Genotyping 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. Milos Marinkovic (genotyping) (NOTE: This supervisor has multiple distinct internships with LHSI. Be sure to select the correct one!)
Department/Office: Medicine Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Overview of the internship site: Our lab studies how the extracellular matrix, a physical scaffold which surrounds stem cells, stores critical information to control their behavior. By studying how aging changes the extracellular matrix, we aim to develop new strategies to improve bone healing and address age-related bone disorders.
Website for more information: https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/69113/marinkovic-milos
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Genotyping Assistant
Using PCR to genotype tissue samples from our mouse colony. Student will learn DNA isolation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis, plus practice in presenting and discussing results and experience working in a medical research lab. Great opportunity for a biology/pre-medical student with or without previous lab experience; scheduling flexible, but needs to be able to commit to a schedule (will discuss). If the student wants to get more involved, we’re happy to have them learn more skills on other projects!
Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: Basic laboratory safety dress code, including wearing a lab coat, safety goggles, gloves, closed-toe shoes, long pants, and compliance with safety protocols.
Project-specific qualifications: Ideal candidates are detail-oriented and self-motivated. No previous lab experience necessary.
Hours per week: 10; 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 2026-27
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.