Call for Applications: Caltech's Amgen Scholars Program
Application, Recommendations, and Proposal Deadline: February 15, 2012
Caltech's Amgen Scholars program provides students the opportunity to conduct research in biology, chemistry, and bio-technical related fields under the guidance of seasoned research mentors. The program offers students interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. a great opportunity to experience the research process.
Amgen Scholarships may be offered in the following fields: biochemistry • bioengineering • bioinformatics • chemical and biomolecular engineering • biopsychology • biotechnology • chemistry • immunology • medical pharmacology • microbiology • molecular genetics • molecular medicine • molecular pharmacology • molecular, cell, and developmental biology • neurobiology • neuroscience • pathology • physiological psychology • physiological science • statistics • toxicology
The Amgen Scholars program is modeled on the grant-seeking process:
Students collaborate with potential mentors to define and develop a project
Applicants write research proposals for their projects
A faculty committee reviews the proposals and recommends awards
Students carry out the work over a 10-week period in the summer, mid-June to late August
At the conclusion of the program, they submit a technical paper and give an oral presentation at Seminar Day, a symposium modeled on a professional technical meeting
Eligibility Statement
Amgen Scholars must
Be sophomores (with at least 4 quarters or 3 semesters of college course work), juniors, or non-graduating seniors attending 4-year colleges or universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or other U.S. territories
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2
Not be under any disciplinary sanction
Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Have an interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.
Students who have been an Amgen Scholar, at any U.S. site, are not eligible. Please consider applying through the Caltech SURF program.
Requirements
Upon receiving an Amgen Scholarship, students sign an agreement to fulfill the following requirements:
To conduct their research from June 18 - August 24, 2012
To devote full effort to conducting the Amgen Scholars project (Scholars are strongly discouraged from taking courses or holding a job)
To submit two progress reports signed by their mentors
To attend the mid-summer Amgen Scholars conference
To submit an abstract of their project
To submit a written technical report approved by the mentor
To give an oral presentation on one of the scheduled seminar day symposia
To attend weekly Amgen Scholar meetings
To fully participate in Amgen Scholar assessment efforts
To abide by Caltech's Honor Code
Compensation
Students receive a $5,500 stipend for the ten-week period. For information on payroll tax issues, please contact sfp@caltech.edu and we will forward your question to the Amgen Scholars payroll coordinator.
Stipend payments will be distributed in equal installments near the first business day in July and August.
Students will also receive a $1500 room and $1200 board allowance, and non-Caltech students will receive reimbursements for their travel to and from Pasadena.
Funding
Amgen Scholar stipends are funded from a generous grant from the Amgen Foundation. Mentors pay all research-related costs and provide space.
Amgen Scholar Summer Activities
To enrich the research experience, Amgen Scholars may participate in the following activities:
Amgen Scholars weekly lunch meetings to bring participants together for discussions, special programs, and to meet faculty
Weekly seminars by Caltech faculty—lunch is provided
A professional development series on developing a research career, graduate school admissions, and other topics of interest to future researchers
Social and cultural activities
Weekly small student-faculty dinners
Special field trips
Housing
Non-Caltech Amgen Scholars will live in Caltech housing during the ten-week summer period, and they can move into rooms on the first day of the summer program.
General Inquiries
amgenscholars@caltech.edu
626.395.2885
