This summer, Julius Coker, a senior University Undergraduate Research Fellow majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Hopkins, took his passion for scientific discovery beyond campus. Julius was among a select group of students nationwide chosen for the 2025 Amgen Scholars Program, a research initiative that offers undergraduates the opportunity to conduct hands-on research at leading universities around the world.
At Howard University, Julius joined a team of researchers studying how viral infections impact heart cells. His project, titled “Time Course Evaluation on Quantification of Zika Virus Impact on Lipid Droplet Dynamics in Cardiomyocytes,” explored how the Zika virus affects lipid metabolism within cardiac cells, a study that could shed light on the virus’s broader implications for human health.
Each year, the Amgen Scholars Program opens doors for hundreds of undergraduates to conduct research at institutions while building networks with faculty mentors, peers, and leading scientists. Participants also attend professional symposia where they share their findings and exchange ideas across disciplines.
The program’s host institutions include universities such as Johns Hopkins, Stanford, UCLA, Caltech, Columbia, Duke, Harvard, and Yale, among others. Beyond the United States, Amgen Scholars can also participate in programs hosted by universities in Japan, Singapore, China, Europe, and Australia, representing the program’s global commitment to cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders.
For Julius, the summer at Howard was more than a research experience. It was an opportunity to connect with a community of scholars, contribute to science, and foresee the impact he hopes to make through his future work.