LHSI Intern: Identifying novel neural populations in obesity and diabetes
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 2025 and end in May 2026 and are paid $13/hour for up to 10 hours per week. Work-study is accepted but not required.
Supervisor: Jonathan Flak
Department/Office: Medicine; Pharmacology and Toxicology
Overview of the internship site: Our lab investigates new neural pathways in obesity and diabetes. We use a variety of mouse models to identify the role of individual populations of cells that can be targeted for therapeutic results in obesity and diabetes. We commonly target subsets of cells in brain regions linked to obesity and diabetes. We test the potential role of cells and targets, be it receptor or transmitters, in functions related to obesity and diabetes. At then end of the study, we perform tests in the tissue to either confirm proper targeting of the cell types or for markers in the tissues associated with obesity and diabetes.
Website for more information: https://www.indianabiosciences.org/flak-lab
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: PCR, gel electrophoresis, immunohistochemistry, histology, mouse handling, care of mouse housing
Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code long pants
Project-specific qualifications: An interest and openness to research in mice.
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 2027 or after (usually a current freshman or sophomore in Spring 2025)
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.