MACON, Ga. — Mercer University sophomore Lila Turbiville was recently selected as an Amgen Scholar and will spend nine weeks at the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill conducting hands-on research mentored by a team of faculty, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students.
The Amgen Scholars Program at UNC-Chapel Hill is part of a highly selective summer research program that allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at world-class institutions. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, Turbiville will assist in conducting research in the lab of Dr. Pengda Liu, associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics.
“I could not be more honored to have been accepted into the Amgen Scholars Program at UNC Chapel Hill, and I am excited to be surrounded by other people who share my ambition and passion for this purpose,” said Turbiville.
From Pensacola, Florida, Turbeville is a biomedical engineering major in Mercer’s School of Engineering. She is a Stamps Scholar; a member of the Engineering Honors Program, Phi Eta Sigma honor society and Chi Omega sorority; and she is on the President’s List. She participated in the Mercer Undergraduate Research Scholar Training Initiative (MURS) and currently conducts research in the lab of Dr. Joanna Thomas, assistant professor of biomedical engineering.
“It’s fantastic that Lila has been selected as an Amgen Scholar,” said Dr. Thomas. “Since joining my lab she has demonstrated her exceptional analytical skills and her impressive capacity to clearly communicate complex ideas. I’m excited that she has the opportunity to build on her Mercer research experiences in pursuit of her goal of ultimately earning a Ph.D.”
After graduation, Turbiville plans to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and hopes to conduct research into targeted cancer therapies that are tumor-specific and less toxic than conventional treatments, and less invasive surgery techniques.
“I always try to remember that people are at the heart of medical research, and they are why researchers strive to solve these complex and enduring problems,” she said. “I think we often forget that humanity is at the heart of medicine, not profits or published papers, and I hope to contribute to these advancements.
About the Amgen Scholars Program
Established in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program is an undergraduate summer research experience hosted at 25 premier educational and research institutions across the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. Participants benefit by conducting a research project under top faculty, participating in seminars and networking events and taking part in a symposium in their respective region. Throughout the program, participants meet peers, present their research findings, learn about biotechnology and hear from leading scientists.
