Amgen Foundation Announces $2.5 Million Expansion of Amgen Scholars Program to Europe
Hands-On Science Research Program Expansion Brings the Amgen Foundation's Total Commitment to Amgen Scholars to $27.5 Million Applications for 2009 Amgen Scholars U.S. Program Now Available
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov 10, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Each year, hundreds of students from across the United States (U.S.) participate in the Amgen Scholars Program under renowned faculty members at the country's leading universities. Now, the same opportunity will be extended to undergraduates throughout Europe. As part of its mission to advance science education, the Amgen Foundation, in partnership with three of Europe's leading universities, today announced the launch of the Amgen Scholars Program in Europe.
"With the launch of the Amgen Scholars Program in Europe, undergraduates from many nations will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the real world of research and experience firsthand what it takes to contribute to the advancement of knowledge," said Jean J. Lim, president of the Amgen Foundation. "Under the guidance of distinguished faculty mentors, we hope the Scholars will be inspired to discover their potential as future scientists."
The initial expansion of Amgen Scholars to Europe is a $2.5 million, two-year program that will provide research experience for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree and a career in science. The three European university partners are the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen in Germany.
For the first phase of the program, which extends through 2010, each of the three university partners will receive funding to host the summer research program, selecting undergraduate participants from colleges and universities across Europe. Similar to the Amgen Scholars U.S. Program, students will participate in an annual three-day symposium where they will hear firsthand from leading scientists working in industry and academia.
Internationally renowned Cambridge University will serve as the European Coordinating Center and will play a leading role in providing coordination, technical oversight and student outreach for the program, in addition to hosting the annual Amgen Scholars European Symposium.
"The Amgen Scholars Program will provide undergraduate students from across Europe with a fantastic opportunity to experience the scientific discovery process, as well as to network with top scientists and industry leaders," said Professor Tony Minson, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and the Director of the Amgen Scholars European Coordinating Center. "We hope that this will inspire more young people to consider scientific careers -- at a time when the education of the next generation of scientists is more important than ever."
2009 Amgen Scholars U.S. Program Applications Now Available
The Amgen Scholars U.S. Program, a $25 million, eight-year commitment of the Amgen Foundation, in partnership with 10 of the nation's premier universities, is now accepting applications for the summer of 2009. In 2007, the program's first year, 238 undergraduate students were selected as Amgen Scholars from approximately 1,700 applicants from across the U.S. In 2008, applicants rose to nearly 2,400 and nearly 250 students, representing 120 different U.S. colleges and universities, were chosen to participate.
The opportunity to work with some of the leading academic scientists in the country is a cornerstone of the program, with participating universities seeking to match students with faculty members who will both inspire and challenge them. For example, Dr. Martin Chalfie of Columbia University, one of the 2008 Nobel Prize recipients in Chemistry for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP, mentored an Amgen Scholar in his lab at Columbia.
Amgen Foundation's 10 host universities for the Amgen Scholars U.S. Program are California Institute of Technology; Columbia University/Barnard College; Howard University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, San Diego; University of California, San Francisco; and University of Washington. MIT, which has long been at the forefront of undergraduate research programming, serves as the U.S. Program Office and plays a leading role in the coordination, technical oversight and student outreach for the program.
Each of the 10 participating host universities in the U.S. is responsible for selecting approximately 25 participants from both their own student body, as well as from other accredited four-year colleges or universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories.
Financial support for students is a critical component of the U.S. and European program, which aims to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, are able to participate. Please note that details vary by host university.
For more information about Amgen Scholars including eligibility criteria and applications, please visit http://www.amgenscholars.com.
About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation (http://www.amgen.com/citizenship/overview.html) seeks to advance science education; improve patient access to quality care; and strengthen the communities where Amgen staff members live and work. Since 1991, the Foundation has made more than $125 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Europe that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. It has also supported disaster relief efforts both domestically and internationally.