LHSI Intern: Diabetes Molecular Mechanisms

5Program Summary:  

This internship is offered as a part of the Life-Health Sciences Internship Program (LHSI). This program connects 1 IUI 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. IU Indianapolis students will be eligible for 2026-2027. 

Supervisor: Dr. Amelia Linnemann

Department/Office: Medicine; Pediatrics

Overview of the internship site: Research in the Linnemann lab is focused on diabetes; specifically, the study of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells under conditions of inflammatory stress. Many of the factors that contribute to beta cell death in diabetes pathogenesis also cause an imbalance in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitigation. This imbalance can lead to a buildup of ROS, which causes oxidative damage and subsequent apoptosis. However, all cells, including beta cells, are equipped with adaptive stress response mechanisms such as the antioxidant response and autophagy to enable the restoration of homeostasis. In the Linnemann Lab, we study the endogenous contributors to ROS accumulation as well as mechanisms by which the cells respond and how these processes may be impaired in the context of diabetes.

Website for more information: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=linnemann+ak&sort=date

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Maintain beta cell lines and pancreatic islets in culture. Perform molecular analyses of cells and tissues (e.g., analysis of gene expression, protein expression) by quantitative PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry/immunocytochemistry approaches.

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily with a dress code of legs and toes covered in the laboratory setting

Hours per week: flexible based on student needs (10 maximum), scheduling is flexible within regular work hours

Project-specific qualifications: Students should be organized and have a strong attention to detail. Technical skills will be taught, and therefore we have no formal requirement for significant prior lab experience, but it is expected that the student(s) will come to the lab ready to learn and contribute to the goals of the lab once skills are mastered.

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 IUI undergraduate at IU Indianapolis in 2025-26 

·        minimum overall GPA of 2.0 

·        All majors welcome

To apply:

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