Our Amgen Scholars Program alumni have been able to utilise the skills gained through ASP in their careers, and Yohaann Ghosh is no exception. Yohaann 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, Yohaann 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.