NIH, Amgen Foundation and the Foundation for the NIH announce collaboration to support undergraduate research opportunities

Summer research program provides hands-on laboratory experience

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Undergraduate students will learn lab work and science leadership skills with mentors from the National Institutes of Health as one of 17 facilities taking part in the Amgen Scholars Program to prepare students for careers in science. Beginning in 2015, NIH will participate as a host institution, appointing candidates who meet both the NIH and Amgen Scholars requirements. This is the first year that NIH will participate in the program in which scholars will spend the summer at NIH’s main campus in Bethesda, Maryland, working with leading scientists. The program is made possible by an $850,000 grant to the Foundation for the NIH from the Amgen Foundation, Thousand Oaks, Calif.

“An important aspect of this opportunity is that it will provide real-world experience to undergraduate students from low-resource settings who lack opportunities to perform independent research during the school year,” said Sharon L. Milgram, Ph.D., Director of the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education. “We know that getting this type of hands-on experience makes a difference in retaining students in the sciences.”

During their internships at NIH, the scholars will focus on projects to bridge the gap between foundational and applied science. Scholars will be matched with research mentors in the NIH Intramural Research Program and will participate in a customized curriculum that will teach leadership skills and prepare them for research-oriented careers. More about the Amgen Scholars Program at NIH can be found here: https://www.training.nih.gov/amgenscholars. Online applications begin November 15, 2014.

The Amgen Foundation’s total commitment to the Amgen Scholars Program now reaches more than $50 million, bringing the Amgen Foundation’s total commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education to over $100 million globally.

“Amgen has seen the positive influence of the Amgen Scholars Program over the past eight years as alumni have gone on to earn Ph.D.’s, be accepted as Rhodes Scholars and to work as scientists at leading institutions,” said Eduardo Cetlin, president, Amgen Foundation. “We are proud to extend our network of world-class educational institutions and offer even more undergraduates this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to broaden their career perspectives and deepen their love of science.”

Financial support for students is also a critical component of the program, which seeks to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, are able to participate. Financial support details vary by institution.

About the Foundation for the NIH
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health creates and manages alliances with public and private institutions in support of the mission of the NIH, the world’s premier medical research agency. The Foundation, also known as the FNIH, works with its partners to accelerate key issues of scientific study and strategies against diseases and health concerns in the United States and across the globe. The FNIH organizes and administers research projects; supports education and training of new researchers; organizes educational events and symposia; and administers a series of funds supporting a wide range of health issues. Established by Congress in 1996, the FNIH is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For additional information about the FNIH, please visit www.fnih.org

About the Amgen Foundation
The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators, and invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $200 million to local, regional, and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenInspires.com

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About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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