LHSI Intern: Laboratory Animal Medicine/Animal Welfare

Program Summary:

This internship is offered as a part of the Life-Health Sciences Internship Program (LHSI). This program connects 125 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.

Supervisor: Dr. Nancy Johnston

Department/Office: Medicine; Laboratory Animal Resource Center

Overview of the internship site: The LARC laboratory evaluates and improves the well-being of animals used in research. Ongoing projects include rodent pathogen research, improving welfare for amphibians, and improvement of rodent surgery methods. In addition, there are a number of projects involving behavioral testing. Students will get hands-on experience in medical techniques, such as blood collection.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Behavioral testing, sample collection, animal handling, reading and presenting relevant literature, and scientific writing.

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily a lab setting; with dress code normal attire; closed-toe shoes required

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

Project-specific qualifications: Students must be able to work with animals, including rodents. Pre-veterinary students are especially encouraged to apply.

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)

·        full-time IUI undergraduate

·        minimum overall GPA of 2.5

·        All majors welcome

To apply:

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