The Indiana CTSI supports undergraduate student research through support and coordination of various programs. These are designed to connect students with groups engaged in research across the translational spectrum including clinical, laboratory and community-based research.
Indiana CTSI Undergraduate Summer Internships

2023 Summer Undergraduate participants (© Denis Ryan Kelly Jr.)
Overview
The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI) undergraduate translational research program provides students with the opportunity to work with Indiana CTSI faculty mentors located at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on projects designed to increase their awareness of and interest in translational research to accelerate the pace of taking medicine from the “bench to the bedside.” Students selected for the program will be matched with a CTSI mentor.
Students receive a $4,000 summer research stipend. Students are expected to engage in research at least 40 hours per week for the duration of the program which runs for 8 weeks, typically from early June to July (specific dates for Summer 2024 to be determined soon).
Students accepted to the summer program should not enroll in classes, work part-time, or plan a vacation during the duration of the program. Students will be required to present a poster at the end of the summer program.
Eligibility Requirements
- Undergraduate first year students (who are currently completing their second semester), sophomores, juniors, or seniors
- Enrolled full-time at IUPUI, IUB, IUPUC or Notre Dame
- Pursuing first undergraduate degree
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Major in any health and life sciences related discipline
- Only US citizens and permanent residents may apply
Program Benefits
- Work with faculty mentors
- Expand career development in biomedical and life science areas
- Receive access to the IUPUI campus and its resources
- Earn $4,000 stipend for participation
- Housing supplements may be provided to students who live >40 miles from IU School of Medicine campus.
- 2024 application: Check back in late fall/early spring
- For more information, please write to: ctsipath@iupui.edu
Indiana CTSI-IVY TECH Undergraduate Internship Program
Overview
The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI) in collaboration with Ivy Tech is launching a new program that is focused on providing immersive research experiences for Ivy Tech learners at one of our partner campuses (Indiana University – Bloomington, Indiana University – Indianapolis, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame). Learners will be matched with a research mentor and spend ~10 hours per week over the course of one academic year. Students will receive financial compensation for working as part of the program.
Other Undergraduate Summer Internship Program on CTSI campuses
These two Summer Program at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center aim to increase the number of undergraduate students from underrepresented populations pursuing biomedical and behavioral science careers by providing positive and meaningful first-hand exposure to these fields.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in the Biomedical Sciences (SUREBS) is the IU School of Medicine’s summer research program for future scientists. The program is designed for undergraduate students who are committed to pursuing a research career and plan to pursue a doctoral (PhD) training program in the biomedical sciences.
The Indiana Medical Scientist/Engineer Training Program’s Undergraduate Summer Research Program (aka the Indiana MSTP-USRP or pre-MSTP), IU School of Medicine’s summer research program for future physician scientists/engineers, is designed for high-performing undergraduate students who are committed to pursuing an integrated clinical and research career and plan to pursue combined-degree training in an MD/PhD Program, such as the Indiana MSTP.
The Pediatric Research Summer Internship is an eight-week program that offers participants the opportunity to engage and learn among expert scientists at one of the largest public medical schools in the United States. The program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students with a strong aptitude for science to gain hands-on experience in pediatric bench research.
The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research is committed to providing students with a program experience full of diverse thoughts, perspectives and abilities. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
The Medical Physician Engineers, Scientists, and Clinicians Preparatory program [MPESC-Prep] (pronounced ‘em-pesk’) is designed to establish a multifaceted training program designed to ensure talented, diverse high school and college students are exposed to opportunities for professional development and mentorship during STEM training to pursue formal education and training in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular, pulmonary, and hematologic conditions. The high school students are from metropolitan Indianapolis public schools and the college cohort of students are from three partner undergraduate programs with an established commitment to diversity and mentorship. These include the Weldon College of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University, the Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) Honors Program and Hanover College, a distinguished liberal arts and residential college that has made a commitment to the recruitment of diversity scholars. While there is a research-intensive summer program for both cohorts and opportunities for students to have clinical exposure, the program is a year-round program and students come back to the same laboratory year after year (in high school or in college) to gain an in-depth research experience and to gain trust with a proven mentor.
For general questions please contact: ctsipath@iu.edu