LHSI Intern: Hurwitz Laboratory 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. Stephanie Hurwitz 

Department/Office: Medicine Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 

Overview of the internship site: This internship offers an opportunity to work closely with members of the Hurwitz laboratory to investigate molecular mechanisms controlling hematopoietic stem cell function, with an overarching goal to improve therapies for patients with blood cancers. The Hurwitz Lab studies hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) which give rise to all immune and blood cells. Using a variety of in vitro and in vivo (mouse) models, we aim to better understand HSPC interactions in the bone marrow with the long-term goal of improving HSPC transplantation for patients with hematologic disease. This project is focused on defining specific transcriptional and epigenetic changes in HSPCs that modulate a long-term adaptive stress response. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to contribute to presentations, abstracts, and publications in the lab. 

Website for more information: https://medicine.iu.edu/faculty-labs/hurwitz 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: - Work with mouse and human tissues to perform a combination of assays including cell culture, western blotting, PCR, and flow cytometry. 

- Assist in maintaining the safety and operation of the lab. 

- Attend lab meetings to discuss ongoing work. 

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: Laboratory attire (pants, closed toe shoes) 

Project-specific qualifications: Must have passed an introductory course in Biology, Biochemistry, and/or Genetics. 

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.