Amgen launches first Amgen Scholars Program in India at IIIT Hyderabad to foster next-generation scientific talent
Hyderabad, July 30 (TNT): Global biotechnology company Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) has launched the first Amgen Scholars Program in India at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT Hyderabad), bringing its globally recognised undergraduate summer research programme to the country for the first time.
The initiative, supported through a two-year commitment from Amgen until summer 2027, aims to strengthen science education, encourage research careers and nurture future innovators by providing undergraduate students with opportunities to engage in advanced scientific research, the company said in a release here on Thursday.
The inaugural cohort includes 10 undergraduate scholars from India, Vietnam, Qatar and Dubai, representing universities across Asia.
The programme brings together students from science, engineering and related disciplines, fostering regional collaboration and exchange.
As part of the two-month residential research programme, scholars will work alongside faculty mentors at IIIT Hyderabad on emerging areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in fundamental sciences, drug discovery, healthcare, cheminformatics and genomics.
The programme will also feature seminars, networking opportunities and participation in the regional Amgen Scholars Symposium in Tokyo in August 2026.
The scholars will present their research outcomes through scientific poster presentations at the conclusion of the programme.
The students were selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an expert committee at IIIT Hyderabad, based on academic excellence, research aptitude, interest in doctoral studies and motivation to apply AI and machine learning in drug discovery.
Naveen Gullapalli, Managing Director, Amgen India, said the launch of the programme in India reflects the company’s commitment to advancing science education and building interdisciplinary research capabilities.
“We are proud to bring the Amgen Scholars Program to India. We hope to inspire talented students to pursue research careers while helping build the interdisciplinary skills needed to strengthen India’s scientific ecosystem,” he said.
Deva Priyakumar, Professor and Dean (R&D), IIIT Hyderabad, said the programme aligns with the institute’s research-driven approach and offers students an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in AI-enabled healthcare and drug discovery.
Sandeep Shukla, Professor and Director, IIIT Hyderabad, said artificial intelligence is transforming biotechnology research, from understanding disease biology to discovering new medicines.
The Amgen Scholars Program, an initiative of the Amgen Foundation, is designed to provide undergraduate students with hands-on scientific research experience at leading institutions worldwide.
The programme has benefited more than 4,000 students in the United States and is currently hosted by 26 leading institutions globally.
Over 6,000 students from more than 1,000 colleges and universities have participated in the programme to date. The initiative also provides financial support to ensure wider access to research opportunities for eligible students.
Amgen said the programme aims to expand research, learning and networking opportunities for students pursuing advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields, with thousands of alumni progressing into academia, biotechnology and healthcare careers across more than 40 countries.
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