The Amgen Scholars Program Expands Globally

Eight years after its inception in 2006, the Amgen Foundation is proud to announce the Amgen Scholars Program is expanding its presence with new host institutions in the U.S., Europe, and for the first time, Japan.

The Amgen Scholars Program will now be available at 17 educational institutions worldwide in 2015, providing greater access and opportunity for undergraduates in science to engage in cutting-edge research across a wide range of scientific fields and deepen their understanding of medical biotechnology.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — the leading supporter of biomedical research in the world — and Harvard University, ETH Zurich, Institute Pasteur, Kyoto University, and the University of Tokyo will join the already distinguished group of host institutions.

“We are delighted to be expanding the Amgen Scholars Program in the U.S., Europe, and Asia—and joining with educational institutions that play a critical role in training tomorrow's scientists,” said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. “As a society we are entering an exciting new era in biotechnology that will be shaped by new genetic research tools, more sophisticated medicines, and advanced manufacturing processes. With this new era comes greater demand for talent, expertise, and critical thinking.”

Through 2018, an additional $18 million will be invested by the Amgen Foundation to support nearly 1,200 undergraduate students' participation in the program. The Amgen Foundation's total past and current commitment to the Program reaches more than $50 million.

Over the past eight years, the Amgen Scholars Program has provided research opportunities under world-renowned mentors to nearly 2,500 undergraduate students. More than 90 percent of the program's alumni who have completed their bachelor's degree are currently pursuing an advanced degree or career in a scientific field.

For Amgen Scholars 2014 alumnus Bayardo Garay, the Amgen Scholars Program has been “one of the most rewarding and priceless experiences of my life,” he said. “It has given me the invaluable opportunity to work at a world-leading university with top-of-the-line facilities, under elite mentorship.”

As an Amgen Scholar, Garay conducted independent research on Alzheimer’s disease at the University of California, San Francisco. During his summer, “I actually had a say in how the experiments were done, and what went on. I was in charge. You don't get that level of freedom everywhere.”

Students in the U.S. and Europe apply to the Amgen Scholars Program from universities in their respective regions, while students from around the world are eligible to apply to the program in Japan. Summer symposia are held in each region, allowing students to come together to share their research projects, learn about biotechnology and hear firsthand from leading industry and academic scientists.

The 17 host institutions are now accepting applications for the 2015 Amgen Scholars Program. Each institution has its own application process. To access the applications, click on the host institution in which you are interested. After reading about the Program at that particular host institution, follow the link to that institution’s Amgen Scholars Program website.