Jakarta, 11 November 2025 – The Amgen Scholars Asia Program 2025 is one of the most highly sought-after summer research opportunities for undergraduate students in biotechnology and life sciences. Landing a spot requires exceptional academic performance, relevant experience, and compelling motivation. Leandro Ravael, a biotechnology student from the 2022 cohort at i3L, has done just that, securing his place at the globally renowned Kyoto University in Japan.

Meet the Scholar: Leandro Ravael, Biotechnology ’22

Leandro Ravael, better known as Lele from Biotechnology 2022, gave a testament to balancing rigorous academic study with active involvement in student life. “I’ve always tried to balance my studies with activities that let me grow both academically and personally,” he shared. At i3L, he served as the president of SCi for 2024/2025 and was honored as a Top Scholar Awardee for both the 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 academic years.

Research Experience at Kyoto University

Leandro completed his summer internship at the Institute for Life and Medical Sciences (LiMe) at Kyoto University.

• Role & Company: Intern at the Institute for Life and Medical Sciences (LiMe), Kyoto University.
• Project Focus: Cutting-edge research on the complex interactions between cancerous and normal cells.
• Key Responsibilities: Beyond the critical task of cell culture maintenance, Leandro worked with mutated cells and explored their mechanics using an advanced lab technique called ELASTomics.

“Everything was quite new to me, from the equipment to the methods, so I was learning something new every single day,” Leandro said, emphasizing the hands-on, high-level learning environment.

How He Secured the Amgen Scholars Asia Program 2025

Leandro’s journey to the Amgen Scholars Asia Program 2025 was not an immediate success story. He faced rejection in 2024 but demonstrated remarkable perseverance by reapplying in 2025.

Leandro’s Strategy:

• Consistency: “I tried again in 2025, and that time boom! Maybe consistency played a big part,” he noted. Critically, he compared his first and second motivation letters to identify and address weaknesses.
• Research Proposal: as part of the requirement, Leandro went the extra mile by creating his own research proposal for the admission team and professor to review. This demonstrated his serious commitment and deep understanding of the research field.
• Goals: He focused on better explaining his career goals and detailing exactly how the specific lab would help him achieve them.

The i3L Foundation: How Education Prepared Him

Leandro credits i3L for providing the essential foundation that made adapting to a top global research lab smoother.

• Hard Skills: “The equipment, lab setup, and technical skills all aligned with the basics we learned at i3L,” he explained, noting that the fundamental knowledge from courses like AIBA (Analytical Instrument & Bioassay) was directly applicable.
• Soft Skills: His involvement in student organizations, like serving as SCi president, was instrumental in building crucial confidence and communication skills. These skills unexpectedly led him to serve as the MC for the 2025 Amgen Asia Symposium as a challenge he was ready to take on.

Tips for Future Amgen Scholars Aspirants

Leandro offers valuable advice for students looking to apply for the Amgen Scholars Asia Program 2025 or other similar competitive research internships:

• Choose Your Project Wisely: “Really spend time looking at the projects and think about whether you’ll enjoy doing them,” he advised. Getting accepted is just the start; the real satisfaction comes from enjoying the rigorous work you selected. (Leandro himself chose a highly challenging mechanical engineering lab!).
• Research is demanding: Leandro had weekly progress updates in front of the entire lab, as well as final examination week during his internship, which was taken on an online exam manner. This type of high-pressure environment is where real-world research skills and resilience are forged.
• Stay Committed & Enjoy: “The key is to stay committed… But don’t worry too much because everyone’s learning along the way. Most importantly, enjoy the program, the time with new friends, and the wonderful opportunity it offers!”