Successful conclusion of the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program 2024

UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program 2024, which started on June 4, ended successfully on August 3.

On July 29th, the final presentation was held at the Sanjo-Kaikan on the Hongo Campus as the final event within the university. Out of the 13 scholars (students participating in this program), two representatives gave oral presentations, followed by poster presentations by all the scholars. Over 50 host faculty members and mentors from the participating labs attended the event, and the scholars were awarded certificates of completion during the farewell gathering.

The Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium 2024, which concluded the program, was held from August 1st to August 3rd. This year, the University of Tokyo served as the host institution, and a total of 56 scholars from the participating institutions in the Asia region, National University of Singapore, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, and the University of Melbourne in Australia, gathered at Fukutake Hall. The first day began with a greeting from President Teruo Fujii, followed by oral presentations from representatives of each school. This was followed by poster presentations by all scholars, and presentations by faculty members from each university. The keynote speech was given by Professor Hiromi Yokoyama, Deputy Director of Kavli IPMU, and Raymond Deshaies, Senior Vice President of Amgen. A special panel discussion on the theme of "Career Path in Science for Society" was also held, featuring additional speakers such as Deshaies, Susana Murteira, President of Amgen K.K., Reiko Akizuki, Executive Medical Director, Professor Minoru Ono of the Graduate School of Medicine, and Professor Ungil Chung of the Graduate School of Engineering. The panel engaged in an active exchange of opinions based on their rich experiences. To conclude the first evening, an excursion was organized to enjoy the night view of Tokyo Bay from a sightseeing boat.
Although it was a short schedule, the Symposium provided an opportunity to deepen interactions with program participants from other schools, and each individual spent a fruitful time.