Johns Hopkins University has secured a substantial grant exceeding $650,000 from the Amgen Foundation to host an innovative summer research initiative. This funding fuels a unique “Amgen Internships 2018 Career Discovery Program” at Johns Hopkins, designed to provide invaluable research experiences for undergraduate students. The program specifically targets individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in science, offering opportunities that might be limited at their home institutions.
This significant $666,546 grant is part of a larger, four-year, $21 million global commitment from the Amgen Foundation. The aim is to expand the renowned Amgen Scholars Program, a cornerstone for fostering future leaders in biotechnology and biomedical science. Johns Hopkins, consistently recognized as a top research institution – leading all U.S. universities in research and development funding for 39 years consecutively – is a distinguished addition to the Amgen Scholars Program in 2019. Joining a prestigious network that includes Yale and Duke universities, and international institutions in Canada, Singapore, China, and Australia, Johns Hopkins will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of scientific innovators through Amgen internships.
Image alt text: Joel Schildbach, Johns Hopkins Vice Dean, discussing Amgen Internships Career Discovery Program.
Joel Schildbach, Vice Dean for Undergraduate Education at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences at Johns Hopkins, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership. “We are grateful to Amgen and excited to welcome and work with these talented students,” Schildbach stated. He emphasized that Amgen’s selection of Johns Hopkins as a host institution underscores the university’s commitment to providing exceptional biomedical research opportunities to promising students. The “Amgen Internships 2018 Career Discovery Program” at Johns Hopkins will actively recruit diverse cohorts, including students from racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college attendees, low-income backgrounds, and veterans. A key focus will be identifying and supporting undergraduates from institutions where research opportunities are scarce.
Schildbach, who is also the principal investigator for this grant, highlighted the comprehensive experience awaiting the Amgen Scholars. “Labs across Johns Hopkins are eager to welcome these students to our campuses starting this summer,” he noted. “We’re building an experience for them—hands-on research, professional development, and collegial interactions among the Amgen Scholars themselves—that will help these students see themselves in—and succeeding in—scientific careers.” This “career discovery program” aspect is central to the Amgen internships, offering a pathway for students to envision and achieve their scientific aspirations.
Summer Amgen Scholars, typically rising juniors and seniors, will immerse themselves in 10-week intensive research internships within Johns Hopkins labs. These labs are led by distinguished faculty members across various schools, including the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Medicine, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The depth of these research experiences could be transformative, with interns potentially earning co-authorship on publications in leading scientific journals. Such achievements significantly enhance their graduate school applications and lay a strong foundation for future research or academic careers. Beyond lab work, the “Amgen Internships 2018 Career Discovery Program” includes targeted professional development sessions. These programs are specifically designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for graduate studies and successful careers in the dynamic field of science.
Image alt text: Robert Bradway, Amgen CEO, emphasizing Amgen Scholars Program’s role in career discovery.
Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program has been instrumental in providing research gateways for over 3,900 undergraduate students from 700 colleges and universities worldwide. Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer of Amgen Inc., emphasized the Amgen Foundation’s commitment to nurturing scientific talent. “As the pace of innovation increases, so too does the need to educate the scientists of tomorrow,” Bradway stated. “We look forward to further expanding the reach of the Amgen Scholars Program, which has already provided research opportunities to thousands of talented undergraduates at premier institutions around the globe, and now has the potential to do much more.” The “Amgen Internships 2018 Career Discovery Program” at Johns Hopkins is a key part of this expansion, aiming to broaden access and impact.
The impact of the Amgen Scholars Program is clearly evident in its alumni success. Approximately 280 former Amgen Scholars have attained PhDs, and nearly 900 more are currently pursuing graduate degrees in scientific disciplines. Impressively, over 500 alumni are now contributing to science professionally across 33 countries. A remarkable 99 percent of surveyed alumni affirm that the program significantly influenced their academic and professional trajectories, as reported by the Amgen Foundation. The “Amgen Internships 2018 Career Discovery Program” at Johns Hopkins is poised to continue this legacy, empowering a new cohort of scientists to embark on impactful careers.
Johns Hopkins University was accepting applications for the summer 2019 Amgen Scholars Program until February 1st. While the application period for 2019 has closed, prospective students interested in future “Amgen internships career discovery program” opportunities should monitor the Amgen Scholars Program website and the Johns Hopkins University website for updates and application information for subsequent years.
