LHSI Intern: Research Technician [Psychiatry] - Substance Use Disorder

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 April 2027 and are paid $14/hour for up to 10 hours per week. Work-study is accepted but not required. 

Supervisor: Mr. Mitchell Smith

Department/Office: Medicine Psychiatry

Overview of the internship site: This position offers hands-on experience in the implementation of clinical research with human subjects suffering from alcohol use disorder. There are many types of research ranging from "bench science" (think white coats, microscopes, western blots, mice, etc) to "community based participatory research" (working alongside groups of people in the places they live, work, and play). This opportunity falls in the middle of that spectrum, meaning that, if selected, you will spend the majority of your time interacting with human subjects (real people) in clinical settings (university hospital and secure teleconference). 

This role will serve as the "boots on the ground" for a double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) testing the effectiveness of low-dose guanfacine (a drug usually prescribed for ADHD) on alcohol use disorder in adults. RCTs are considered the gold standard, meaning you will gain exposure to highly rigorous research designs, contributing strongly to your preparation for a future career in research of any kind. This role offers the oppostunity to participate in all stages of the research process including recruitment of study subjects, administration of psychological assessments, use of electronic data capture systems, etc. 

Our small team size means you will work closely with experienced investigators and research staff, unlocking the option to learn about many other aspects of clinical research if you choose (not required) such as study design, grant writing, regulatory compliance, logistics, database creation/management, data analysis (year dependent), etc. 

This is a great position for you if any of the following criteria are true:

• You anticipate applying to medical school and may want to get involved with medical research
• You have an interest in substance use disorders or behavioral psychology
• You are considering a career in human subjects research
• You are a "people person" who can't imagine spending 8 hours a day alone in a basement laboratory

Website for more information: N/A

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The LHSI intern will work alongside the Investigator, Clinical Research Manager, and fellow Research Technicians primarily on the following tasks:

• Recruitment of study subjects
• Scheduling study visits
• Facilitating the informed consent process
• Meeting with participants in person to administer study assessments
• Meeting with participants via video conference to administer other study assessments
• Organizing and mailing study materials to participants
• Entering data into REDcap, OnCore, and other research software systems
• Additional research tasks as desired by the intern for tailored experience

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting and an office setting with dress code: Business Casual

Project-specific qualifications: This is an entry level research role, thus prior research experience is not required. 

The ideal candidate will be:

• Personable, with strong social skills and a love of people
• Mature, drug trials involve real risk to patients, they must be taken seriously
• Hardy, many of these patients have rough lives and may tell you weighty stories that aren't always comfortable to hear
• Detail orientated, this work will impact the future of what drugs people may or may not be prescribed, we cannot be sloppy

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 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.