Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program

The Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard is a 10-week faculty-mentored residential summer research program for undergraduates in biotechnology. Amgen Scholars will be paired with world-renowned faculty mentors and a director supervisor (postdoctoral scholar or graduate student) in the laboratory, following an interview selection process. Faculty mentors will be selected from the following Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Departments and Institutes: Wyss Institute, Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB), Molecular and Cellular Biology (MCB), Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI), as well as faculty from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), the Division of Medical Sciences (DMS) at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and the Broad Institute. Throughout the duration of the program, Amgen Scholars will conduct hands-on, innovative research across biotechnology fields in cutting-edge facilities at Harvard. While participating in the program, Amgen Scholars will reside in one of Harvard’s historic River Houses as active members of Harvard’s Summer Undergraduate Research Village community. In addition to research, Amgen Scholars will participate in a number of intellectual, pre-professional development, and social activities throughout the program. Read our student testimonials here.

Amgen Scholars at Harvard will participate in a full-time 10-week residential summer research program, where they will be paired with faculty hosts. In addition to research, the Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard believes in a three-dimensional approach that includes a variety of pre-professional development, scholarly development, and social engagement activities to encompass a dynamic, holistic process for training the next generation of scientists.

The Amgen Scholars Program features:       

I. Pre-Professional Development

• Workshops and panel discussions on:
  • Effective Science Communication
  • Funding Opportunities for Graduate Education
  • Graduate School and Medical School Admissions and Preparation
  • The PhD Student Experience
  • Life in the Academy
  • Career Opportunities in Academia and Industry
• Attendance to the Amgen Scholars Symposium in Los Angeles, CA sponsored by the Amgen Foundation
• Networking opportunities with graduate students, senior scientists, industry professionals

II. Scholarly Development

• Research talks by faculty, post-docs and graduate students
• Research Integrity Training
• Science Communication Practice and Critique

III. Social Engagement Activities

• Exploring Boston & Cambridge
• Cohort social events
• Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village BBQs and affiliate program social events
• Networking with graduate student Amgen Scholar Program alumni

Please follow the link to view the Amgen Scholars 2020 Brochure. 

Please click here to learn more about the 2019 Harvard-Amgen Scholars. 

Please click here to learn about past Amgen Scholar Projects and the labs that hosted them. 

HARVARD-AMGEN SCHOLAR PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Are you an ambitious, enthusiastic undergraduate who wants to explore biotechnology research in a Harvard-affiliated lab full-time for ten weeks in the summer, and live among our community of research scholars?  Follow these simple steps to submit an application for Summer 2020. 

THE 2020 PROGRAM APPLICATION OPENS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2019. THE DEADLINE FOR THE 2020 APPLICATION IS MONDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2020. 

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STEP 1:  READ

Read the biotechnology/biotechnology-related research descriptions of potential faculty hosts carefully and determine up to three projects in which you’d like to participate.

STEP 2:  CREATE XID

Non-Harvard applicants will need to create an XID before they begin the application process. Create an XID here by entering your email address and name. Your new XID will be used to access CARAT, where you will submit your application. After you create your XID, it will take approximately 15-20 minutes before CARAT will recognize your XID credentials. 

Harvard applicants will be able to submit applications to CARAT using their Harvard key credentials. 

STEP 3: SOLICIT RECOMMENDATIONS

IMPORTANT: You should enter your recommenders in CARAT before starting any other application materials. Make sure you give your recommenders plenty of time to ensure your application is completed by the deadline. Do NOT wait until the night before the application is due to send the reference requests from CARAT.

Two letters of recommendation are required.

Download the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Recommender Instructions below. 

Send each of your two recommenders the instructions, which will guide recommenders on the topics we would like addressed in their letters of recommendation. We strongly encourage you to have a conversation with your recommenders about your interest in the program, and share your essays with them, which will help inform them about what they could write. 

Letters should be submitted by recommenders to CARAT. Make sure to remind your recommenders to submit their letters before the February 3, 2020 deadline.

To download the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Recommender Instructions, please click the link below.

RECOMMENDER INSTRUCTIONS 


STEP 4:  PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS

A complete Harvard-Amgen Scholarship application consists of the following materials:

HARVARD-AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM 2020 APPLICATION AND ESSAY FORM
The four essay questions are as follows:

• Describe the research project that interests you most and articulate why it appeals to you. Focus on your principal choice, but include a paragraph at the end to briefly discuss your second and/or third choices. (1000 words)
• What have you done academically to prepare for this particular experience? (500 words)
• What are your academic/professional goals, and how do you see this opportunity supporting your trajectory as a scientist? (500 words)
• How would you benefit from and contribute to the Amgen Scholar community of undergraduate biotechnology researchers? (500 words)

CURRENT TRANSCRIPT
A .pdf copy of your unofficial transcript with coursework through Fall 2019 (you may either scan the transcript, or submit an unencrypted unofficial electronic version if offered by your institution). Submitted transcripts must meet the following criteria: 

• Include Fall 2019 Grades
• Include Course Titles (course numbers not accepted)
• Must NOT be encrypted
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to find out if the electronic unofficial transcript is encrypted from their Registrar. An encrypted transcript (official or unofficial) will NOT be accepted and your application will be considered incomplete. 

 Please note that upon admission to the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program, students will need to provide an official transcript. 

RESUME
A recent copy of your resume saved in .pdf format. The resume should be no more than 2 pages in length, in no smaller than 11 point font and should highlight relevant research or work experiences, skills learned that relate to research, academic achievements, leadership, service, and extracurricular activities, publications or conference presentations (poster and/or oral) (if any.). Most relevant research or work experiences should include a brief statement of skills learned or contributions made while in the research/work experience.

Please be clear and concise. Any resume page beyond the 2 page limit will not be considered. 

To download the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program 2020 APPLICATION AND ESSAY FORM, please click the button below.  
                                                                                                                                                                

STEP 5:  SUBMIT YOUR MATERIALS

Once you have completed the required application components, upload and submit your application materials in .pdf format. Please note that if you are not ready to submit your application materials immediately following your online registration, you may go back to the materials submission website at a later time by clicking the link below.

• Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program 2020 Application and Essay Form 
• Current Transcript 
• Resume 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Your application is complete when you have fully responded to each of these steps. After the deadline has passed and we have had the opportunity to initially evaluate the submitted applications, you will receive an email confirming that you are being considered for the program.

The selection process is quite thorough and is comprised of three steps:  the first step examines basic eligibility and assigns a general rating to each application; the second step is focused more thoroughly on specific research interests and faculty host choices for the purpose of matching applicants to projects; and, the third step includes Skype interviews of finalists prior to final selection of the Harvard-Amgen Scholars.

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SELECTION RESULTS AFTER INTERVIEWS ARE COMPLETED, which we expect to happen in early to mid-March.  Please do not contact our office requesting updates on the status of your application.

HARVARD-AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM LETTER WRITER INSTRUCTIONS

Please download the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Recommender Instructions below, which will guide you on the topics we would like addressed in your letters of recommendation. We strongly encourage the Harvard-Amgen Scholar applicant have a conversation with you about their interest in the program and their responses to the essay questions, which will help inform you about what to write in your letter. Once the Harvard-Amgen Scholar applicant has entered your information into our Centralized Application for Research and Travel (CARAT), you will receive an email prompt from carat.app@fas.harvard.edu with a link to upload your letter of recommendation to CARAT. Please submit your letters of recommendation directly to CARAT. The deadline to submit letters of recommendation is February 3, 2020. Please contact us by email (amgenscholars@harvard.edu) or phone (617-496-6220) with any additional questions you may have.

To download the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Recommender Instructions, please click the button below.

RECOMMENDER INSTRUCTIONS

Eligibility

The Amgen Scholars Program at Harvard selects undergraduates with high academic success, research interests in the biotechnology fields, and commitment to the pursuit of a career in science.

Amgen Scholars applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents 
• Undergraduate students enrolled in accredited four-year colleges or universities in the United States, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories
• Sophomores (with four quarters or three semesters of college experience), juniors or non-graduating seniors (who are returning in the fall to continue undergraduate studies)

Applicants must also have:

• A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or above (on a 4.0 scale)
• An interest in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.

The program especially encourages applications from individuals who come from groups traditionally underrepresented in the STEM fields – African American/Black, Chicano/Latino/Hispanic, Puerto Rican, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander, women, and those with disabilities – as well as individuals who come from rural or inner-city areas and individuals whose backgrounds and experiences would bring diversity to the biotechnology fields.

Previous research experience is not a requirement for participation in the program.

Requirements

Harvard-Amgen Scholars are expected to fulfill the following requirements:

• Participate fully for 10 contiguous weeks (June 8th - August 14th, 2020) in the Amgen Scholars Program. Amgen Scholars cannot take courses or hold a job throughout the duration of the program. Amgen Scholars must be present for the entirety of the program.
• Live on campus in one of Harvard’s historic River Houses in the Harvard Summer Undergraduate Research Village.
• Participate fully in the laboratory culture of the research group, including lab meetings or other gatherings.
• Attend all required seminars, workshops, weekly activities, and social events.
• Attend the Amgen Scholars National Symposium in July at UCLA. 
• Must live in the provided UCLA Housing for the duration on the symposium. 
• Present summer research project at final oral presentation.
• Complete pre- and post-program surveys.

The Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program collaborates with faculty across the university. Applicants should select up to three potential faculty hosts from the departments, institutes, and schools listed below. Applicants should not reach out to faculty prior to being admitted to the program. Admitted students to the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program will be connected with potential faculty hosts by the Amgen Scholars Program staff. Please look carefully at the faculty profiles to determine up to three potential faculty hosts with biotechnology-based projects that you are interested in participating in during the summer program.   

Wyss Institute
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Physics
Chemistry and Chemical Biology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Division of Medical Sciences
Broad Institute (must have Harvard faculty appointment)

If you have questions about faculty hosts or their Harvard appointments, please contact the Harvard-Amgen Scholars Program (amgenscholars@harvard.edu).

Amgen Scholars receive the following benefits:

• Stipend in the amount of $4,600 (Food allowance is included in the stipend)
• Housing at one of the historic residential River Houses of Harvard
• Travel Costs for non-Harvard students traveling to/from Boston, MA
• Amgen Scholars Symposium at UCLA travel costs to/from Los Angeles, CA and symposium food and lodging are provided
• Additional Benefits include access to athletic and recreational facilities, Harvard’s libraries, and on-campus activities, such as presentations, lectures, performances, and much more!

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dr. Pamela J. Gaddi
Program Manager, Harvard Amgen Scholars Program
Assistant Director, Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

Phone: 617-496-6220
Email: amgenscholars@harvard.edu