University of Washington, Bothell student Vicky Hererra has been accepted to participate in the 2010 Amgen Scholars Program.

The Amgen Scholars Program is held every summer at nine universities and colleges around the nation. The program provides students with the opportunity to do hands-on research with top academic scientists.

For her project, Hererra will work with University of Washington professor Dr. De la Iglesia on exploring sleep and memory patterns. She will assist in a study to discover how sleep disruption adversely affects memory compensation. The hope is that their work will lead to a better understanding of circadian clocks.

The work that Hererra completes with Dr. De la Iglesia will culminate in a presentation that will be presented during a three-day symposium in California.

Says Hererra, “UW-Bothell prepared me for this program by broadening my understanding of science and providing me with the necessary skills for success in this program.”

She anticipates graduating with degrees in both chemistry and biochemistry in 2012, and hopes to go on to earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry, during which she can continue her research.