LHSI Intern: Exploring Lung Cell Polarity and Disease Mechanisms with CRISPR and Advanced Imaging

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: Andrew Tilston-Lunel

Department/Office: Medicine; Pediatrics and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research

Overview of the internship site: I study how lung cells maintain their polarity, communicate with each other, and adapt to changes in their environment, and how disruptions in these processes can lead to respiratory diseases like asthma, fibrosis, and lung cancer. My research focuses on understanding how lung cells maintain their polarity, communicate, and adapt to changes, particularly during injury, repair, and disease. Cell polarity—the ability of cells to organize and orient themselves—is essential for lung function, and its disruption can lead to respiratory diseases like Primary Cilia Dyskinesia (PCD), asthma, fibrosis, and lung cancer. I use advanced techniques like CRISPR gene editing to investigate how specific genes, signaling pathways such as the Hippo pathway, microtubule dynamics, and plasma membrane organization influence these processes. My lab also employs cutting-edge imaging technologies to visualize these mechanisms in real-time, providing unique insights into lung biology and potential new treatments for respiratory diseases.

Website for more information: https://x.com/alunellab

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Typical duties include analyzing cells and nasal/lung tissues, including preparing, staining, and imaging these tissues using a specialized microscope. The intern will gain hands-on experience with laboratory techniques such as tissue preparation, staining, and advanced imaging. Additional responsibilities may include assisting with Western blots, essential biochemical assays, and cell culture work. Depending on the intern's interests, there are opportunities to explore advanced molecular biology techniques like cloning and contribute to animal studies. No prior laboratory experience is required—just a willingness to learn and engage in meaningful scientific research.

Work Environment and Dress Code: The work is performed primarily in a lab setting with dress code: requiring adherence to standard safety protocols. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided and must be worn, including lab coats, safety goggles, and gloves as needed. Closed-toed shoes are required at all times in the lab to ensure safety. The lab environment emphasizes professionalism, attention to detail, and a commitment to maintaining a safe and organized workspace.

Project-specific qualifications: Maturity, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn are essential qualities for this position. Applicants should be excited to learn, open-minded, and work well with others in a collaborative environment. Good time management skills are critical to balancing tasks effectively. No previous laboratory experience is required—just bring your curiosity and enthusiasm for discovery!

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 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.