LHSI Intern: Endocrinology Student Intern
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. Imranul Alam
Department/Office: Medicine; Endocrinology
Overview of the internship site: Discover innovative treatment strategies for bone and mineral diseases through basic and pre-clinical research. Our laboratory focuses on basic and pre-clinical research related to both common and rare bone and mineral diseases. We employ various cutting-edge cell and molecular biology methodologies; we also utilize genetics, biochemical assays, and state-of-the-art imaging techniques. In addition, we create mouse models of human bone disorders by genetic engineering and test various drugs in these mouse models for potential therapeutic targets in humans. Our main goal is to understand better the developmental process and molecular mechanisms as well as to discover novel treatment strategies for common (osteoporosis) and rare (osteopetrosis) bone diseases.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Intern will participate in multiple ongoing projects in the laboratory, learn numerous techniques in an interactive way, and perform supervised as well as independent experiments. Some of the typical duties involve DNA and RNA isolation, genotyping, standard and real-time PCR, gene expression analysis, electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing. Intern will also learn basic cell culture techniques as well as perform biochemical measurements, in-vivo and ex-vivo skeletal imaging, analysis of bone phenotypes, animal breeding, tissue dissection, and surgery. Data analysis and presentation during lab meeting are routinely involved.
Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code of casual dress (long pants and closed-toe shoes) and personal protective equipment (lab coat, gloves, and safety glasses)
Hours per week: flexible based on student needs (10 maximum), scheduling is flexible within regular work hours
Project-specific qualifications: Some basic laboratory experience is helpful, but not required. Extensive training will be provided, but eager to learn, good communication skills, and willingness to work both independently and with other lab members are essential.
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 75 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.