Young scientists accelerate their research careers with summer scholarships
A select group of brilliant and ambitious young scientists from across Australia and the Pacific gathered at the University of Melbourne on 5 January for the launch of the annual Amgen Scholars Program, which fosters leaders and innovators in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Alongside 25 prestigious institutions in the USA, Canada, Europe, and Asia, the University of Melbourne is the only Australian institution delivering the seven-week, intensive summer program, thanks to a $21 million grant from the Amgen Foundation in 2020.
The University’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mark Hargreaves, congratulated the ten 2024 Amgen Scholars at a welcome lunch at Queen’s College, where the students will be hosted for the duration of the program.
The 2024 cohort at the launch of the Amgen Scholars Program
“From hundreds of applicants, these ten remarkable students won their scholarships through a rigorous selection process,” Professor Hargreaves said.
“They deserve the extraordinary opportunity that lies before them – almost two months of hands-on laboratory experience, seminars and networking events with world-leading experts and innovators – and the University is proud to deliver it.
“We are ideally positioned in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct, and I encourage the Amgen Scholars to immerse themselves in this research and innovation ecosystem. I look forward to following their diverse projects and attending their presentations at the concluding symposium in February.”
Le Thao Anh (Ann) Nguyen came from Vietnam to undertake her Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne and successfully applied for an Amgen Scholarship at the end of her second year. A former contestant in international Chemistry Olympiads, she is excited to collaborate on research in biological chemistry with the group led by Dr Ivanhoe Leung.
Ann Nguyen
“The Amgen Scholars program has an outstanding reputation for fostering careers in innovative research,” Ms Nguyen said. “I want to explore innovative chemical approaches to drug development and therapeutic interventions.
“I see chemistry as a bridge between the sciences: I love how chemical structures and reactions obey mathematical rules and physical laws, and how you can apply chemistry theory to solve biological problems.
“Spending most of my school years and several Covid lockdowns in Hanoi made me keen to see other parts of the world. My family was initially concerned when I moved to Melbourne. Now, they can see the benefits of my decision, as esteemed researchers who share my passion will mentor me.”
Trishaal Datt was midway through a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of the South Pacific, in Suva, Fiji, when a lecturer told him about the Amgen Scholarship program.
Trishaal Datt
“I’m considering a career in research combining electrical engineering with biomedicine,” Mr Datt said. “The rare opportunity to gain laboratory experience with experts at the top of this field was too good to miss, so I applied immediately.
“The Amgen Scholars program affords me a unique chance to experience the life of a researcher, gain technical skills, and contribute meaningfully to scientific knowledge. I’m thrilled to have been accepted by the Peripheral Interfaces and Neuromodulation Group led by Dr Sophie Payne at the Bionics Institute.
“Their projects resonate deeply with my interests. I love designing smart devices and robotics and computer coding and programming, and I want to apply these skills to solve health problems,” he said.
“The geographic isolation of my home university restricted opportunities for networking, so I’m keen to get to know the other scholars, my laboratory group, the wider research community, and their industry partners. I’m also looking forward to exploring Melbourne because it’s such a different climate and culture to Fiji.”
Movindu Kumarasinghe has completed two years of a Bachelor of Medical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The New Zealander was inspired to apply for his Amgen Scholarship by a friend in the 2023 cohort and will work under Professor Anthony Hannan in the Epigenetics and Neural Plasticity Group at the Florey Institute.
Movindu Kumarasinghe
“Members of my family have struggled with anxiety and depression, so I have a deep interest in our potential to heal from psychological afflictions by changing our behaviour, diet, or environment to alter the way our genes or brains work,” Mr Kumarasinghe said. “The opportunity to conduct research in this area as an undergraduate is a great privilege.”
“I manage my own mental health through exercise, time in nature, playing guitar, reading, and drawing. I particularly enjoy journaling and writing short stories,” he said.
“After my medical degree, I hope to specialise in psychiatry and conduct research in this speciality. I believe the skills, knowledge, and networks I make through the Amgen Scholarship program will help me achieve that goal.”