Hands-On Biotech Opens Doors for Students in Ireland
September 22, 2026
Every year, secondary school students studying biology from schools across Ireland take part in an Advanced Genetics workshop at University College Dublin (UCD) through ABE. Students explore genetic engineering and biology through hands-on experiments, including bacterial transformation, gel electrophoresis, and micropipetting. The activities give…
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"It is a very unprecedented time, and there are a lot of eyes on my field right now. In my work before COVID-19, I would have difficulty getting people’s interest enough to even pick up a phone call. Now, I find myself being directly messaged by friends, family, and former colleagues to understand… Read More
The ABE Program Office would like to take a moment to share our deep appreciation for Sherry Tsai, longtime site director for ABE-LA. Sherry has been at the helm of the very first flagship ABE program in Los Angeles, steered it through many changes in course, and has shepherded our largest ABE… Read More
Marco Cyrille has had many mentors in his life, but one especially stands out. When he was 19 years old attending Queens College CUNY, he met a college counselor named Helen T. Hendricks. Cyrille had been in a tough place as a newcomer to the United States from Haiti and was on his own, with his… Read More
When Scott Atkinson left his classroom after the school day in early March, he had no idea that it would be the last time he’d see the gels he had just put in the fridge for an Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) lab. The gels would kick off the new PCR lab his class was going to explore on genetically… Read More
A shout-out to Héctor Ayala del Rio, longtime site director for ABE Puerto Rico! In the face of disruptions due to a major hurricane in 2017, an earthquake in January 2020, and COVID-19 closures, Héctor continues to manage and support Puerto Rico’s strong and resilient ABE community. Héctor ’s… Read More
We’d like to introduce the newest member of our ABE community, Síle Lane! Síle joins the ABE Ireland team as their site coordinator. Before joining ABE, Síle worked at Sense about Science, a London-based charity that trains researchers in effective communication and public engagement. Síle has a… Read More
With Italy swept up in a tsunami of crisis as it battles the global COVID-19 pandemic, there are a few “drops of water in the sea” that are showing the way to calmer waters for students as they navigate these unprecedented times. With schools moving to virtual learning, Amgen Biotech Experience (… Read More
The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) that has created a global pandemic is challenging public health and scientific systems worldwide. Many promising efforts are underway to develop a vaccine to prevent the disease in the future. Vaccines can effectively teach the immune system to recognize and… Read More