LHSI Intern: Cell biologist and 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. Rebecca Wallings 

Department/Office: Medicine Neurology 

Overview of the internship site: Immunology and neuroscience focused research aimed at understanding the role of the aging immune system in Parkinson's disease and dementia Our lab uses a combination of mouse models and patient samples to understand the role of inflammation and an aging immune system in parksinons disease and dementia, using methods such as imaging microscopy, flow cytometry and biochemical techniques 

Website for more information: https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty/68429/wallings-becky 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The undergraduate research intern will receive hands-on training in a biomedical research laboratory and will contribute to ongoing projects under the direct supervision of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and the principal investigator. Responsibilities include learning and adhering to basic laboratory etiquette, safety procedures, and proper documentation practices. The intern will be trained in fundamental tissue culture (TC) techniques, including sterile technique, cell maintenance, and experimental setup. They will also gain exposure to basic biochemical assays and molecular biology techniques as appropriate to the project. 

In addition, the intern will assist with immunofluorescence staining protocols, including sample preparation, antibody handling, and imaging, and will be introduced to fluorescence microscopy and basic image acquisition and analysis. The intern is expected to maintain organized lab records, follow established protocols, participate in lab meetings when appropriate, and demonstrate professionalism, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. This position is designed to provide foundational research skills and exposure to experimental design and data interpretation in a supportive training environment. 

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: Casual attire is permitted when working in lab, closed-toe shoes, sleeves and pants/bottoms that do not leave legs exposed are required 

Project-specific qualifications:  

Hours per week: 10; Require minimum of 4-5 hours per shift in order to be productive 

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.