Johns Hopkins and MedImmune Announce Joint Program to Train Ph.D. Students for Careers in Biopharma

To the Johns Hopkins Medicine community

Dear Colleagues:

As the career ambitions of our graduate students grow more varied, it is important that we offer them a variety of hands-on experiences to ensure they have the best opportunities available to them when they finish their studies. We are pleased to announce that The John Hopkins University and MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, have developed the Johns Hopkins-MedImmune Scholars Program. This three-cohort pilot program will provide our Ph.D. students with a unique opportunity, one that unites exceptional academic rigor with comprehensive training in the biomedical field and prepares our students for careers in the biopharma industry. The new initiative is the first of its kind between a major university and a biopharmaceutical company in the United States, and builds on the ongoing collaboration between MedImmune and Johns Hopkins.

Beginning this academic year, students from the Ph.D. programs in the school of medicine and Whiting School of Engineering may apply to participate in the program during the spring of 2017. Up to 15 students will be selected to participate in the first cohort pilot. They will receive rigorous training focusing on the professional skills and knowledge required to be part of the biomedical workforce. Students will also gain research experience in an industry environment through thesis projects conducted jointly in Johns Hopkins and MedImmune labs, a feature unique to the program. In addition to the Johns Hopkins curriculum, the scholars will be introduced to the process and challenges of drug discovery and development through coursework co-taught with scientists from MedImmune, as well as a yearlong internship at the company.

All scholars will have dissertation committees with prominent scientists from both Johns Hopkins and MedImmune. After defending their dissertations, the participants may go on to traditional academic or industrial postdoctoral research positions, or they may complete a yearlong internship at MedImmune to develop on-the-job training for nonlaboratory careers, such as science writing, project management or clinical operations. Students who graduate from the program will receive a traditional Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University.

As the nation's first research university, it is fitting that Johns Hopkins is at the forefront of creating innovative opportunities for our students. We are excited to be partnering with MedImmune to create new avenues for the exchange of innovative ideas and groundbreaking research among scientists, engineers and clinicians, which are critical parts of biomedical discovery.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ed Schlesinger, Ph.D.
Benjamin T. Rome Dean
Whiting School of Engineering
The Johns Hopkins University