The Amgen Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill

Amgen Scholars at UNC-Chapel Hill

Thanks to the generous support of Amgen Foundation, the Amgen Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel is committed to:

providing undergraduates with enriching, collaborative research experiences in biotechnology/drug discovery;
fostering and developing scholars’ science identity and professional mindset, and;
promoting entry into PhD or MD/PhD programs and scientific careers.

UNC-Chapel Hill Amgen Scholars Program

In Summer 2024, UNC-Chapel Hill will host its first cohort of up to 10 Amgen Scholars. Accepted applicants will be matched with a faculty mentor conducting world-class biotechnology/drug discovery research. Amgen Scholars at Carolina will conduct nine weeks of hands-on research related to the lab’s ongoing projects, mentored by a team of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students. World-class faculty from a diverse array of disciplines including medicine, pharmacology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, genetics, biology, computer science, and other STEM-related fields will provide mentored research opportunities for participants.

Scholars will participate in complimentary activities that support the UNC-CH ASP biotechnology/drug discovery focus, including meetings with scientists and graduate students currently interning in industry as part of their PhD programs and potential visits to local biotechnology and Pharma companies in Research Triangle Park (RTP), home to 275+ companies. In addition to seminars, journal clubs, poster presentations, and programming that supports graduate school preparedness, UNC-CH Amgen Scholars will participate in social and cultural activities as part of an immersive learning environment. Scholars will also travel to participate in the 2024 Amgen Scholars North America Symposium in July.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a world leader in research that is dedicated to serving as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders. The Amgen Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill provides opportunities for students to join the research community at UNC-Chapel Hill and engage in research focused on bioscience and discovery, development, and refinement of biotechnology. The goal of the Amgen Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill is to recruit students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and provide them with skills and knowledge that will make them highly competitive applicants for graduate studies and careers in bioscience and biotechnology. Prior research experience is not required. Selected participants will receive a $4,200 stipend, a food allowance, and housing on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Undergraduates who are US citizens or permanent residents and have at least one remaining year of undergraduate studies (i.e. not graduating seniors) are encouraged to apply. Click here for further eligibility requirements and to apply.

The program dates are May 28-July 26, 2024.

Please click here to apply to the program.

The Amgen Scholars Program

Launched in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program aims to inspire the next generation of innovators by providing undergraduate students with hands-on summer research opportunities at premier educational and research institutions across the globe.

With the expansion being announced in 2023, Amgen Scholars will now be hosted at 24 top institutions across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and for the first time, China, Singapore, Australia and Canada. The Amgen Foundation will commit more than $21 million to the Amgen Scholars Program through 2022, totaling a $74 million investment over 16 years. The program provides greater access and opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in cutting-edge research, be mentored by world-renowned scientists, and deepen their understanding of medical biotechnology. Financial support for students is also a critical component of the program, which seeks to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, can participate.

During their time as Amgen Scholars, students will:

Take part in important research projects at their host institutions, gaining hands-on lab experience and contributing to the advancement of science.
Be mentored by faculty, including some of the world’s leading research scientists.
Attend scientific seminars, workshops and other networking events, including regional summer symposiums where students will come together to share their research projects, learn about biotechnology and hear first-hand from leading industry and academic scientists.

Fast Facts

The Amgen Foundation has committed $74 million over 16 years to making these opportunities possible for undergraduates.
Now hosted at 25 premier institutions worldwide, Amgen Scholars have represented over 700 colleges and universities to date.
3,906 Alumni (57% have been female).
Of those alumni who have completed their undergraduate studies, nearly 900 are currently pursuing an advanced graduate degree in a scientific field, and another 280 have earned their Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D.
More than 500 alumni are employed in scientific fields across 33 countries.
99 percent of 1,303 alumni recently surveyed say the program impacted their academic or professional direction.
Alumni are employed in scientific fields across 36 U.S. states/territories and 32 additional countries.

AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM HOST INSTITUTIONS BY REGION

United States

California Institute of Technology
Columbia University
Duke University
Harvard University
Howard University
Johns Hopkins University
Stanford University
UC Berkeley
UC Los Angeles
UC San Francisco
UNC Chapel Hill
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Washington University St. Louis

Europe

ETH Zürich
Institut Pasteur
Karolinska Institute
LMU Munich
University of Cambridge

Asia

Kyoto University
National University of Singapore
Tsinghua University

Australia

University of Melbourne

Canada

University of Toronto