National University of Singapore (NUS) will be among 24 top institutions worldwide partnering with the Amgen Foundation
This 4-Year, US$21 Million investment will engage undergraduates in Singapore and East and Southeast Asia in research opportunities
Singapore, 05 November 2018 – Today, the Amgen Foundation announced the expansion of the Amgen Scholars Program, a hands-on research program that allows undergraduates to spend a summer at one of many of the world’s premier research institutions. The new commitment brings the program to a total of 24 elite institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia and, for the first time, Australia and Canada. Through this new four-year commitment of more than US$21 million (SG$28.9 million), 1,500 undergraduates from hundreds of colleges and universities will have the chance to engage in research opportunities in the biomedical and biotechnology fields. This brings the Amgen Foundation’s total investment in the Amgen Scholars Program to $74 million over 16 years, reaching 5,400 undergraduates.
As part of today’s news, the Foundation announced that National University of Singapore (NUS) is coming on-board as an Amgen Scholar host institution in Singapore. The program will reach undergraduates in Singapore as well as East and Southeast Asia in research opportunities.
“The most disruptive changes and greatest advances are now taking place in the life sciences. With Singapore’s economic strategy of boosting and driving innovation in the science and technology sectors, Amgen Foundation is pleased to partner with NUS in advancing excellence in science education to empower tomorrow’s innovators. We believe the Amgen Scholars program will empower aspiring scientists in Singapore and across Asia to connect the dots between DNA and treating disease. This program further reiterates Amgen Foundation’s commitment to empower and nurture a pipeline of talent that will ensure the sustainability and growth of the healthcare and biomedical sectors in Singapore and the region,” said Arleen Paulino, Vice President, Site Operations at Amgen Singapore Manufacturing.
“We are thrilled to partner the Amgen Scholars Program as a new host institution. This reaffirms NUS’ commitment in nurturing the next generation of scientists,” said Professor Shen Zuowei, Dean of the NUS Faculty of Science. “Undergraduates enrolled in this program can look forward to a holistic learning experience in the area of biomedical science at NUS. This will include working full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of very experienced research scientists from NUS to develop meaningful solutions and therapies for some of today’s biggest medical challenges. NUS students will also benefit greatly from the opportunity to conduct research at top institutions overseas.”
This signature initiative builds upon the Amgen Foundation’s mission to advance excellence in science education and empower tomorrow’s innovators, a goal to which the Foundation has contributed nearly US$150 million globally to date. Eight new partners — Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Yale University — will join the already distinguished group of host institutions, which includes Harvard University, National Institutes of Health, University of Cambridge and Stanford University, among others.
“As the pace of innovation increases, so too does the need to educate the scientists of tomorrow,” said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. “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 do much more.”
Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program has made research opportunities at premier institutions possible for more than 3,900 undergraduate students representing 700 colleges and universities. 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 are employed in scientific fields across 33 countries, with 99 percent of surveyed alumni saying the program impacted their academic or professional direction. Alumni of the program are beginning to make a growing impact across academia, industry and government, garnering numerous awards and recognitions such as the Rhodes Scholarship, NIH Director's New Innovator Award, and selection to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare.
"The Amgen Scholars Program solidified my passion for translational research and made me confident in a laboratory environment. In addition to gaining skills in several experimental techniques, I also learned how to think like a scientist,” said Joy Wolfram, Ph.D., Amgen Scholar Program alum, and Mayo Clinic lead for the Nanomedicine and Extracellular Vesicles Lab. “After completing the program, I have been extensively involved in international research collaborations between the United States, China, and Europe."
Amgen Scholars provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in the process of discovery and build intellectual connections with some of the most accomplished scientists around the world. Undergraduate participants benefit from undertaking a research project with the mentorship of top faculty, being part of a cohort-based experience, participating in seminars and networking events and taking part in a symposium in their respective region where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology and hear from leading scientists in both industry and academia.
The program aims to break down barriers for many students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to engage in science at the world’s top educational and research institutions. Financial support for students is a critical component of the program, which seeks to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, can participate.
The host institutions are now accepting applications for the 2019 Amgen Scholars Program. For more information about the Amgen Scholars Program, or to complete an application, visit www.AmgenScholars.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation.
Hear from Su Chang Chloe, an Amgen Scholar from Singapore as she shares her experience on her participation in the program at Kyoto University, Japan and the opportunities for independent research, networking, and communication skills here: https://bit.ly/2Aa2JQF
Additional Digital Assets:
AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM HOST INSTITUTIONS
*Indicates New Host Institution for 2019
About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators and to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $300 million to local, regional and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenInspires.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation.
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CONTACT:
Amgen, Singapore
Mindy Chee +65 6675-0754 (media)
National University of Singapore
Yun Yun Tan +65 6516 2308
Edelman, Singapore
Lim Min Qi, +65 6494-1404