LHSI Intern: Undergraduate Researcher, gut bacteria and the enteric and central nervous systems

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 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: Dr. Brittany Needham

Department/Office: Medicine; Stark Neuroscience & Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiology

Overview of the internship site: We all have a dense ecosystem of bacteria that live in our gut, and they are constantly sending signals to our cells, some of which even change how we think and feel. Our lab works to identify molecules that gut bacteria produce and figure out how they are affecting our enteric and central nervous systems. For example, we have found a small bacterial signal that causes changes to brain myelination (white matter) and increases anxiety behaviors. We are interested in figuring out the details of known signals as well as identifying new bacterial functions previously not known to influence the gut-brain axis.

Website for more information: needhamlab.com  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: You will learn many lab techniques in the field of microbiology, molecular biology, animal research (if you're interested), and neuroscience. Some aspects will be independent work on your own project, and some time will be spent assisting other lab members in order to learn and become proficient.

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: n/a

Project-specific qualifications: Prior lab courses or lab experience will help you get a jump start (how to use a pipette, sterile technique, etc)

Hours per week: flexible based on student needs (10 maximum); 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 IUI undergraduate
• 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.indianapolis.iu.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.