This summer 26 promising science sophomores, juniors and seniors from Columbia/Barnard and across the country will participate in the new Amgen Scholars Program, gaining invaluable experience conducting original laboratory research and learning of the demands of professional research results presentation.
The aim of the program, funded by a $250,000 four-year grant from AMGEN, is to provide budding scientists with a pivotal experience that will encourage and equip them to pursue careers in the sciences. AMGEN is partnering with ten premier U.S. universities to offer science undergraduates the opportunity to engage in a fully-funded, hands-on research experience each summer.
Alice Heicklen, faculty of Biological Sciences at Columbia says "students not only gain access to the leaders in their fields and begin developing peer relationships, but we've seen many up-and-coming scholars work in the very labs they studied in. Students will gain fundamental research skills, learn more about the scientific discovery process, and network with peers."
The 10-week program begins after Memorial Day with half the students based at Barnard/Morningside and the rest at the Columbia University Medical Center, CUMC. In week one, students learn the basics of laboratory safety. The next three weeks involves research lectures by the Columbia/Barnard faculty, followed by another three weeks learning about 'scientific papers'; learning how to read and write them while also learning how to professionally prepare the results of their research. The final time covers research presentation, with students presenting oral results of their work. The young scholars attend a mid-summer, three-day symposium in Nevada where they can compare and discuss research projects and hear firsthand from leading scientists from industry and academia.
Jean Lim, president, Amgen Foundation says, "we believe our partnership with Columbia can provide students with a pivotal experience that will encourage them to pursue further education and training in the sciences."
The nine other universities include California Institute of Technology; 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.
For more information about Amgen Scholars, please visit www.amgenscholars.com |
