Research in the real world. 

The Amgen Scholars Program is an international program that gives undergraduate students hands-on lab experience, working for 7 weeks in one of our world-class labs. You’ll get the chance to research full time on a project, meet like-minded students, and experience the wealth of scientific opportunity that Melbourne has to offer. All costs are covered, including travel, and living costs, and Scholars receive a stipend to support them during their experience.

The University of Melbourne is proud to be the only institution in Australia that offers this program.

The program encourages applications from First Nations applicants. Applicants who have experienced adversity, financial difficulty, or otherwise challenging circumstances are also encouraged to apply.

Why Amgen Scholars?

The Amgen Scholars Program is a unique program, combining research experience with travel and an international community. Through the generous support of the Amgen Foundation, we’ve designed a program that provides a platform where you can explore your research interests and expand your skills, preparing you for a career in scientific research.

Hear from our alumni

Throughout the program, we provide personalised support; in your lab, at college, and beyond. You’ll work closely with a mentor in your lab on a day-to-day basis. There’s also a fortnightly seminar, where industry and academic leaders discuss emerging scientific issues, as well as tours and excursions.

The Program concludes with the Symposium event, where Scholars present to their cohort, as well as the wider University of Melbourne community, the research they have conducted. This includes a poster presentation and a short aural presentation, preparing students for research conferences in their future career.

The University of Melbourne is the leading Australian research university, ranked #1 in Australia (based of Times Higher Education), #14 in the world (based of QS Quacquarelli Symonds World University Ranking), and has the largest cohort of research students in Australia.

The Program provides students with an enrichment program at the historic Queen’s College, on campus, free of charge. This includes all meals. Living at Queen’s College with your fellow Scholars means that you’ll be able to form a strong community both socially and intellectually.

In addition to your research experience, you will have the opportunity to meet with leading industry professionals, attend seminars delivered by world-class researchers, and explore the wonderful city of Melbourne.

Questions?

If you have any enquiries, please contact us at amgen-scholars@unimelb.edu.au

To be eligible for the Amgen Scholars Program Australia program you must:

• Be an undergraduate student enrolled in an accredited college or university from across Oceania – Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific.
• Have completed two years of an equivalent Australian Bachelor degree in a scientific field before the summer program begins, and at the end of the program have at least two semesters left of your undergraduate degree (i.e. to be eligible for the ASP 2024, you will have finished your second year at the end of 2023 and expect to graduate at the end of 2024).

You must also have:

• A weighted average mark (WAM) equivalent to 75% (GPA 3.2) or above in relevant 1st and 2nd year subjects; and
• Demonstrate academic excellence and leadership; and
• Have interest and enthusiasm for a research higher degree in a scientific field;
• OR, you are Indigenous and have a weighed average mark (WAM) equivalent to 55% or above in relevant 1st and 2nd year subjects.

Applicants experiencing financial or personal hardship are encouraged to apply. Students from linguistically diverse, rural, international or Indigenous backgrounds are also encouraged to apply. Such factors are taken into account when evaluating applications.

Applications

Applications open: 1 August 2023*

Applications close: 31 August 2023*

Outcomes released: from 2 November 2023*

Program

Program commences: 4 January 2024*

Program concludes: 23 February 2024*

*Please note, applications and program dates are subject to change.

Applications for the Amgen Scholars Program 2024 will open on Tuesday 1 August, 2023*. Please note, the application link will be live from this date.

To receive updates about the program, sign up for the mailing list here.

*Please note, applications and program dates are subject to change.

Accommodation, pastoral care, dining and extracurricular activities are provided for the duration of the program at the historic Queen’s College, located on College Crescent next to the University of Melbourne.

Queen’s is one of Melbourne University’s larger colleges, featuring beautiful student spaces set in landscaped gardens. Facilities include the fully furnished student rooms, numerous studio and rehearsal spaces, a spacious library, and the Eakins Dining Hall. Scholars are provided with a private room for the duration of the program.

The College is perfectly located, a quick tram-ride away from the centre of Melbourne and a few minutes’ walk from the popular restaurants and shops of Lygon Street Carlton.

Throughout the program, Amgen Scholars Program participants can use some of the wonderful facilities Queen’s College has to offer while being close to their research laboratory. Fortnightly seminars are run throughout the program, facilitated at Queen’s.

Learn more about Queen's College

Questions about the accommodation and facilities provided through Queen’s College should be directed to amgen-scholars@unimelb.edu.au

Available projects* will be added to the site as they become available for the 2024 round.

Lab Head emails are for project specific queries only. If you have any general queries about the program, please email amgen-scholars@unimelb.edu.au

*Please note, projects are subject to change.

1. What is the application deadline for the Australia Program?

Applications will close on Thursday 31 August, 2023. Late applications are not accepted. Please plan for this accordingly, particularly when asking references to fill out the letter of recommendation.

2.  How do I apply?

Applications will open on Tuesday 1 August, 2023. The application process includes an application form, a letter of recommendation, and a personal statement.

3. What research projects are available?

Please see here for available research projects. Please note, these are subject to change. Research projects are available in a variety of fields, and change on a yearly basis depending on what is available.

4. Can I apply for the Amgen Scholars Program if I’ve already finished my undergraduate degree?

No. Amgen Scholars must have at least one year left of their degree (FTE). If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact amgen-scholars@unimelb.edu.au

5. Do I need to have previously attended the University of Melbourne to apply to the Amgen Scholars Program?

No, you don’t need to be from the University of Melbourne, but to be eligible, you must be enrolled as a student at an accredited college or university from across Oceania – Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific. Foreign nationals need to have work and study rights in Australia to participate in this program.

6. What about housing, food and travel expenses to and from the summer program in Australia?

Financial support is available to all students accepted to the Amgen Scholars Program. Financial support will cover travel, accommodation and associated costs and will be confirmed once successfully admitted to the program.

Amgen Scholars receive the following benefits:

• Stipend paid in two sums, up to $3600;
• All accommodation and meals provided at Queen’s College;
• Travel Costs including flights and public transport to and from campus;
• Additional Benefits include access to some athletic and recreational facilities, on campus activities, excursions to other scientific facilities, and a fortnightly seminar series.

7. Can I apply to participate in the Amgen Scholars Program in Australia if I am not a science or engineering major?

Yes. Students in any major may apply, although it is expected that most of the Amgen Scholars will have science, life science or engineering majors. Students are expected to have experience in a discipline appropriate to the research project they participate in, with approval from their research lab.

8. Do I need to have research experience prior to being admitted to the Program?

No. The Amgen Scholars Program encourages applications from both students experienced in research and newcomers to the field. We encourage applications from students attending universities where research opportunities are not available.

9. I’ve experienced personal or financial difficulties that mean my study/grades have been affected. Will I be able to share this in my application?

Yes, we encourage applications from students who may come from difficult circumstances. This will be taken into consideration.

10. Can I participate as an Amgen Scholar for more than one summer?

No. Students are invited to participate as an Amgen Scholar for one summer only. This ensures that the largest possible number of students get to experience the program.

11. Can I apply to participate as an Amgen Scholar at multiple institutions?

No, eligible students attending colleges and universities in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania are only eligible to apply for the Australian Amgen Scholars Program.

12. What if I was a mid-year entry to my degree and therefore will only have 1.5 years of my degree completed at the time of the program?

Apply anyway! We take mid year entry into consideration. As long as you still have 1 year FTE left of credits in your program, and have completed at least 1 year of FTE completed, you are eligible for the program.

Our Alumni

The Huong (Kevin) Chau, Macquarie University 

Kevin was part of the inaugural Melbourne Amgen Scholars Program cohort in 2020. Since the program, he has continued to pursue a research career. He graduated from a Master of Research in 2022 and is currently a PhD candidate in glycomics and glycoproteomics at Macquarie University. 

His experience in the Amgen Scholars Program gave Kevin an insight and invaluable skills that he’s utilised in his ongoing research. Kevin says, “Working with Prof Gavin Reid in the lipidomics field also increased my interest in expanding my knowledge in the -omics research to other areas including glycomics and glycoproteomics. During my time at ASP, I strengthened a lot of lab skills that I had not had a chance to get my hands on during my Undergraduate. In addition, I was grateful to be exposed and make connections with plenty of academics as well as people working in the industry, which is definitely helpful for developing my career as a research scientist.”

Reflecting on the program, Kevin says he would recommend the program to any potential applicants after his experience: “I would highly recommend everyone to apply for this program as this is going to the lifetime experience that you are never going to forget. What would be greater than spending two months in Melbourne doing the things you love and making connections with other scholars sharing the same interest with you? The Amgen Scholars Program is a great experience to be exposed to the research and academic world.”

Kevin has gone on to receive multiple scholarships and awards in the few years since he attended ASP, including most recently the University Medal for Chemistry and Biomolecular Science. He continues to work with the Analytical Glycoimmunology Team at Macquarie University.  

Yohaann Ghosh, Griffith University (formerly Sydney University)

Our Amgen Scholars Program alumni have been able to utilise the skills gained through ASP in their careers, and Yohaann Ghosh is no exception. Yohaan worked with A/Prof Kathryn Stok during the 2020 Amgen Scholars Program, completing a project focused on tissue engineering for osteoarthritis.  

Yohaann says the program continues to benefit him in the years after the program. “To this day I still reap benefits from my time as an Amgen Scholar be that in academia, industry or clinical practice. Moreover, I was able to develop lifelong friendships with fellow scholars who share the same passion and enthusiasm for biotechnology and life sciences research,” says Yohaann.

When asked what advice he would give to someone thinking about applying to the program, Yohann says: “Just apply! As long as you’re keen and willing to turn up to the lab every morning then you’ll make the perfect Amgen Scholar. The benefits of the program extend way beyond your project alone. You’ll get to know industry leaders, learn how to present in front of large groups, and work as part of a research team – all highly transferable skills that aren’t taught in standard undergraduate curriculums.”

Furthermore, the Amgen Scholars Program was key in shaping his current career pathway. “The Amgen Scholars Program is the most well-funded and best-supported undergraduate research program in the southern hemisphere. The combination of practical lab experience and commercialisation training were the catalysts for my current pursuit in translational research – moving ideas from benchtop to bedside.”

Since the program, Yohaann has continued to study at dental school, teach anatomy & histology at Sydney Medical School, obtain further research scholarships in tissue engineering, published novel surgical techniques for facial reconstruction in peer-reviewed journals, and has had a textbook chapter recently accepted by Springer Nature for release in 2023.   

Read more about Yohaann’s work here. 

Thomas (Phu Minh Triet) Nguyen, the University of Adelaide

Amgen Scholars participants come to the program with many different motivations and inspirations. Thomas (Phu Minh Triet) Nguyen travelled from the University of Adelaide to undertake research after his mother experienced cancer when he was young. During his time in Melbourne, he investigated the underlying mechanism of intestinal cell death induced by tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family using a simple cell line model, under the supervision of Professor Ross Bathgate.

“Something that motivates me to pursue this research is dedicating it to my mum, Thuy. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while she was pregnant with my little brother back in 2004. I still remember watching my mom suffering from severe side effects of the breast cancer treatment. I promised to myself to become a scientist to study the underlying mechanism of breast cancer treatment-induced gut toxicities so that the outcome of my research could contribute to a tiny part in helping patients with breast cancer like my mum.”

Thomas’s experiences at the Amgen Scholars Program were key in building his research skills and preparing him for further research. To prospective applicants, he advises: “Whether you are looking for your first hands-on experience or gaining more research experience in a particular research area of interest, go for it! Participating in the ASP is a once in-a-lifetime experience. It’s not only about academic achievement but also about professional and personal maturity.”

Thomas is now continuing to study, now completing his Masters degree and working as an academic tutor in physiology.

Inoli Wadumesthrige Don, University of Canterbury

“The amazing community that has been built amongst my fellow scholars and the opportunity to to gain a realistic view of life as a scientist – the program has solidified my interest in pursuing science as a career and becoming a scientist.”

Lavi Singh, University of the South Pacific

“My summer as an Amgen scholar was a key point in my undergraduate journey. It was my window into the world of academic research. I was able to immerse myself in the diverse community of scientists and explore research in an area I was interested in. I also made some of the most insightful and brilliant friends on the way.”

In the News

Amgen Scholars: Bridging Science and People for Aboriginal Australia with Sidney Ruthven

The Bionics Institute: Amgen Scholars Program - Developing the researchers of tomorrow

University of Melbourne Newsroom: Scientists Share - Naming new species with Sidney Ruthven

Amgen Scholars: Combining Mathematics with Biology on a Research Path with Noa Levi

Please contact us if you have any questions about the Amgen Scholars Program.

Kapisha Patel

amgen-scholars@unimelb.edu.au
Amgen Scholars Program Coordinator
Faculty of Science