Amgen Launches First India Scholars Program at IIIT Hyderabad for AI-Enabled Healthcare Research
Two-year initiative will support undergraduate research in artificial intelligence, drug discovery, genomics and healthcare through summer 2027.
Amgen has introduced its global undergraduate summer research programme in India for the first time through a partnership with IIIT Hyderabad. The initiative is intended to provide undergraduate students with research exposure in artificial intelligence, machine learning, healthcare and drug discovery.
The programme is backed by a two-year commitment from Amgen through summer 2027. Its inaugural cohort comprises 10 undergraduate scholars representing India, Vietnam, Qatar and Dubai. The students are enrolled in science, engineering and related undergraduate programmes at universities across Asia.
Two-Month Residential Research Programme
Participants will undertake an intensive two-month residential research experience at IIIT Hyderabad. Working with faculty mentors, they will explore applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in:
- Fundamental sciences
- Drug design and discovery
- Healthcare
- Cheminformatics
- Genomics
- Related research areas
The programme also includes seminars, networking activities and participation in a regional Amgen Scholars Symposium, scheduled to be held in Tokyo in August 2026. At the conclusion of the programme, each scholar will present their research through a scientific poster presentation.
The scholars were selected by an expert committee at IIIT Hyderabad through an evaluation process based on academic performance, research aptitude, motivation to pursue doctoral studies and demonstrated interest in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to drug discovery.
Naveen Gullapalli, managing director, Amgen India, said:
“Scientific breakthroughs begin with curious minds and meaningful opportunities to learn. 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.”
Deva Priyakumar, professor & dean (R&D), IIIT Hyderabad, said:
“We are delighted to serve as the host institution for the first Amgen Scholars Program in India. The program aligns well with our research-led approach to education and provides undergraduate students with an exceptional opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in AI for healthcare and drug discovery while learning from leading faculty.”
Sandeep Shukla, professor & director, IIIT Hyderabad, said:
“AI is transforming every stage of biotech research, from understanding disease biology to discovering new medicines. This program gives students an opportunity to work on real scientific problems while developing the interdisciplinary research skills needed to address tomorrow's complex healthcare challenges.”
Global Amgen Scholars Network
The Amgen Scholars Program is a long-running initiative of the Amgen Foundation, providing undergraduate students with summer research opportunities at leading institutions worldwide.
More than 4,000 students in the United States have benefited from the programme. It is currently hosted by 26 institutions globally, with over 6,000 students from more than 1,000 colleges and universities having participated to date.
Financial support forms a core component of the programme, intended to enable eligible students to participate regardless of their financial circumstances. The initiative focuses on expanding research, learning and networking opportunities for students interested in pursuing advanced STEM degrees.
Programme alumni have progressed to graduate education and careers in academia, biotechnology and healthcare across more than 40 countries.