Amgen Scholars Program Schedule 2026

*Additional scientific and social events will be announced as the summer progresses.

Weekly Meetings:

All students in the Amgen Scholars Program will meet weekly in small discussion groups for the scientific communications seminar, beginning June 8th until July 31st. The purpose of these groups is to provide a structured setting in which students can discuss their work with their peers, learn about others' work, and develop their scientific communication and evaluation skills.

During the course of the summer, each student will prepare a research paper written in the format of a journal article and present a 12-minute talk about his or her research. Toward the beginning of the summer, weekly discussion groups will cover topics including critical evaluation of data, critical reading of research papers, and the protocols of professional research communication. As the summer progresses, the focus will shift toward writing and peer-evaluating drafts of student research papers, and research presentations.

Attendance in discussion groups is mandatory. This is an integral part of your training, and you are expected to attend every week. If you must miss a session you may make it up by attending the other session in the same week. However, you may not substitute a session from another week. If for some reason you cannot attend either section in a given week, notify your instructor in advance and schedule a one-on-one meeting with the instructor instead.

In-class participation is expected. Anticipate the deadlines for your work; discuss them with your mentor and set up pre-deadlines when you can review the work with your mentor, allowing time for her or him to give you feedback.

If you have a legitimate reason to move a deadline, and you communicate this reason to your mentor and instructor in a timely manner, then deadlines can be adjusted.

Recommended text (not required):

Victoria E. McMillan, Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences, 3rd ed.1997

Payment:
SURF Stipend = $5,500, paid in two installments.
Payment of the first stipend, $4,500, will be paid in June. Payment of the second stipend, $1,000 is contingent upon submitting your research article as a pdf file by the deadline. This year the paper is due September 1st.

In addition to submitting a pdf file, all articles must be signed by the Principal Investigator (Faculty Member). An electronic signature will be accepted.

Pdf files should be emailed to Amgen@columbia.edu. If you have any questions beyond confirmation of receipt of the article, please contact Chanda Springer at [email protected].

Stipend checks will be direct deposit or mailed to the address payroll has on file. Make sure your information is updated in SSOL. If you opt for direct deposit, sign up as soon as possible! Non-Columbia students' first stipend may be direct deposit. However, the second stipend check will be mailed to you as necessary; please provide us with your preferred mailing address for this purpose.