Amgen Scholars at UCSD complete an eight-week residential program that includes the following components:

• 30 hours of faculty-mentored hands-on
  research;
• Five weeks of GRE preparation, beginning
  with a diagnostic pre-test, individual tutoring
  as needed and a post-test;
• Mandatory workshops on writing research
  papers and abstracts, and presenting work
  at scholarly meetings;
• Seminars by UCSD faculty on current
  research projects;
• Participation in the mid-summer Amgen
  Scholars Symposium;
• Presentation at the annual UCSD Summer
  Research Conference; and
• Regular individual meetings with the UCSD
  Amgen Scholars Program coordinator.

UCSD’s 28 Amgen Scholars work in 14 pairs, consisting of one UCSD student and one visiting scholar. Team members serve as undergraduate researchers to a distinguished UCSD faculty member and take part in important ongoing research projects.

Although the pairs are matched by similar research interest, their differences should provide one of the most rewarding elements of the Program. Their varying scholarly approaches, academic training and backgrounds enrich the collaborative aspect of the research project and help foster the scholars’ abilities to view problems and challenges from new perspectives. Moreover, the length of the research project and the interdependent nature of the arrangement provide the scholars with numerous incidental opportunities to discuss their personal goals and concerns in a safe environment.

Finally, many UCSD faculty members who have substantial experience as mentors and research directors request two or more undergraduate researchers so they can take on larger projects and preside over a more dynamic research environment.

In addition to the structured activities, UCSD’s Amgen Scholars participate in several social activities with students participating in the UCSD Summer Research Program (SRP). SRP social events include a beach cookout, pizza party, movie night, an ice cream social and other informal meetings.