Each year, as part of the sponsorship program, Dr. Peter Hanns Zobel, Managing Director of IZB, presents to the international students the IZB business incubator, which has become one of the leading innovation centers in Europe. More than 50 start-ups in the field of biotechnology are based here. Of course, it is also exciting for the young students to learn how to start their own biotech company. For example, Prof. Andreas Ladurner, CSO of Eisbach Bio GmbH, and Dr. Pascal Schweizer, CEO of Thermosome GmbH, explained their life and career paths. Both came to the conclusion that a functioning network in particular is the key to success. “Exchanging ideas with founders, sharing in their experiences and asking lots of questions are the success components for successful entrepreneurs of the future,” Zobel said. Dr. Raluca Goron organized the program from the side of LMU Munich.

The Amgen Scholars Program aims to open the door to research opportunities at 24 host institutions for undergraduates from any four-year college or university in a given region. Made possible through a 16-year, $74 million commitment from the Amgen Foundation, Amgen Scholars allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at world-class institutions. 24 premier educational and research institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada currently host the summer program.

Undergraduate participants benefit from undertaking a research project under top faculty, being part of a cohort-based experience of seminars and networking events, and taking part in a symposium in their respective region where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology, and hear from leading scientists.

Final meeting at a symposium
A signature component of the summer program is the symposium where students hear firsthand from leading scientists working in industry and academia. Over the course of the symposium, Scholars have the chance to share their summer research projects with their peers and deepen their understanding of drug discovery and development.

Amgen Scholars from across the U.S. and Canada meet in California, Amgen Scholars from across Europe convene in England, Amgen Scholars across Asia meet in Singapore, and Amgen Scholars across Australia, New Zealand and Oceania convene in Australia. The four symposia provide undergraduates with a valuable opportunity to network with other Amgen Scholars as well as interact with leading industry and academic scientists.

Amgen Scholars is hosted at five premier educational institutions throughout Europe. Each host institution has its own application process. Enrollment at a European institution is required, and the students can apply to participate at as many host institutions as you are interested in. In Europe, the host institutes are ETH Zurich, Institut Pasteur, Karolinska Institutet, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the Cambridge Institute.