Ivy Tech Research Scholars Program opens the door to research careers
As a student growing up in Venezuela, Leonardo Alarcon loved biology.
“I read and re-read my biology textbook during my free time,” he recalls. “It was my favorite of all the subjects.”
That same intense interest persisted as he immigrated to the United States with his family, and, later, pursued an associate’s degree at Ivy Tech Community College. He wanted to explore what a career in research might look like and was “craving” real-world experience outside of the classroom.
When he learned about the Ivy Tech Research Scholars Program, he thought, “This is perfect. I need to apply right away.”
Alarcon was right: the program was exactly the opportunity he needed to launch his career in research. In the summer of 2024, he spent eight weeks in the Lim Lab at IU School of Medicine, studying chronotropic incompetence (or a slower than usual heart rate during exercise) in people with chronic kidney disease. (Check out his research poster.) He did so well that the following spring, having transferred to IU Indianapolis to complete his bachelor’s degree, he was hired as a student worker in the same lab, where he now assists with patient recruitment.
“I really appreciate that this program exists to give students at Ivy Tech the opportunity to get this experience and build careers in research,” he said.
Curiosity, discovery and meaningful mentorship
The Ivy Tech Research Scholars Program is a partnership between the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) and Ivy Tech. Program participants are matched with research mentors and then spend eight weeks during the summer working with those mentors on research projects. Depending on their interests, students can explore basic research, translational research, clinical research or population research.
“One of my favorite parts of this program is watching students light up when a new concept finally clicks,” said program manager Jalysa King, MA. “Seeing their excitement as they talk about what they’re learning is what this program is all about. We’re offering exposure and creating an interest in research, while fostering meaningful mentor-mentee relationships built on curiosity, growth, and shared discovery.”
Alarcon was a member of the program’s first cohort in the summer of 2024. The work was incredibly stimulating, he said, but one of the most valuable things he learned in the lab was the importance of being organized, meticulous, and consistent.
“You have to be aware of many things—reading papers to get background information on the topic or population of interest; reading protocols to understand how a project or research should be conducted; applying many lab techniques while working with samples; and being able to troubleshoot along the way,” he said. “You must also be open to making mistakes and able to learn from them.”
Kenneth Lim, MD, who is the principal investigator of the Lim Lab, said Alarcon worked “super hard” during his summer internship.
“His dedication and commitment led us to offer him a part-time position as a student worker where he helps out with patient recruitment for our clinical trials,” he said. “This provided him a unique experience where he had exposure to the spectrum of translational and clinical research.”
This has been “a blessing,” Alarcon said.
“When I started the summer internship, I was hoping to learn everything about what it meant to work in research. I always thought that research was just about carrying out experiments in a lab,” he reflected. “I never realized there were all of these other angles.”
He’s thankful for the opportunity to see a little bit of everything, he said. These experiences will be essential as he pursues his bachelor’s degree and, eventually, medical school.
“It has been an awesome year. I feel very blessed for this opportunity, and I wish others could experience the same,” he said.
Good for students and good for our communities
Matt Allen, PhD, director of workforce development for the Indiana CTSI, said that the Ivy Tech Research Scholars Program is designed to “open doors into research” for learners at Ivy Tech.
“Careers in research are challenging to truly understand without engaging in them firsthand,” he said. “We believe that attracting the immense talent of these learners into the research infrastructure represents a huge win for advancing the health of Indiana.”
Applications for summer 2026 are currently being accepted. December 1 was the priority deadline, though applications will be accepted until March 1. More information is available on the Indiana CTSI website.
