Vertex Spring Co-Op 2027, Process Development

Vertex Pharmaceuticals LLC; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 41,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free 24/7 onsite gym

Free meals—on-site

Subsidized commuter benefits

Career development opportunities

On-site Boston location

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals LLC in Boston is offering a 6-month Process Development Co-Op for students pursuing advanced degrees in Biological or Chemical Sciences. You will work on a cryopreservation project focused on CPA diffusion in islets, integrating imaging with modeling, and collaborating across teams in Drug Product Development.

The role emphasizes hands-on lab work, data analysis, and development of scalable workflows while gaining mentorship, flexibility, and career-launch opportunities in

Qualifications

• Pursuing a graduate degree (PhD or master’s preferred) or undergraduate in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Experience with mammalian cell culture, aseptic technique, and cell handling.
• Foundational knowledge of cell cryopreservation and thawing.
• Experience with cell microscopy, staining, imaging, and data capture.
• Knowledge of computational modeling approaches related to diffusion kinetics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Legal right to work in the United States; enrollment in an advanced degree program if graduating before June 2027.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to cryopreservation process development projects and CPA formulation exploration.
• Develop cryo-microscopy workflows for real-time imaging of islets during loading/unloading and freezing.
• Design and execute cryopreservation studies and generate imaging datasets.
• Develop an initial computational modeling framework to connect diffusion and process parameters.
• Document experiments and write technical summaries, protocols, and ELN entries.

Skills

Mammalian cell culture

Cryopreservation

Cryo-microscopy

Cell imaging

Staining

Data analysis

Strong communication

Education

Graduate degree in Biological/Chemical Sciences or related field

Undergraduate degree plausible in related field

Job description

## Vertex Spring Co-Op 2027, Process DevelopmentApply: Boston, MA: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 15, 2026 (30+ days left to apply): REQ-30508**Job Description****Kickstart Your Career at Vertex!** Are you ready to make a real impact? At Vertex, our mission is to tackle serious diseases and to change lives, for the better, for the future. Our aim is to give you the skills, insights, and career guidance to be an important part of that future; to turn your potential into progression. As a Vertex intern or co-op, you’ll work on meaningful projects, collaborate with talented teams, and learn from industry leaders. We’re passionate about innovation, inclusion, and supporting your growth—inside and outside the lab.**Why Vertex?*** **Real Projects:**You’ll work on assignments that make a real impact, not just busy work.* **Mentorship & Networking:**Connect with leaders and peers who want to see you succeed through professional networks, connections, and collaborations that will shape your longer-term career.* **Flexible & Supportive:**We offer flexible work options with Flex @ Vertex and prioritize your wellbeing.* **Inclusive Culture:**Collaboration and inclusion are embedded in everything we do.* **Career Launchpad:**Build skills, explore career paths, and get guidance for your future career.**Your Impact**The Vertex Process Development Co-Op is a 6-month experiential training program for students currently working towards an advanced degree in Biological Sciences, Chemical Sciences, or other related fields. If you are passionate, collaborative, and growth-minded, a co-op at Vertex will help you gain meaningful experience in our Drug Product Development functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career.*The application deadline for this co-op is November 15th. Please note that Vertex reviews applications on a rolling basis and reserves the right to close this job posting prior to the listed deadline. Applicants can expect to receive an update about their application before or shortly after the application deadline.***Ready to apply? Submit your application and let’s turn possibilities into reality!****What you will be doing:** The Drug Product Development team within Process Development is responsible for developing scalable, high-quality drug product processes to advance Vertex’s Cell and Gene Therapy programs from early development through manufacturing readiness. This Co-op position offers the opportunity to contribute to a high-impact cryopreservation process development project for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) drug product. The role will focus on establishing a cryo-microscopy workflow to evaluate cryoprotective agent (CPA) diffusion into islets and characterize islet responses across different cryoprotective formulations and cryopreservation conditions. By integrating experimental imaging data with computational modeling, the Co-op will characterize CPA diffusion kinetics, inform formulation development, and identify opportunities to optimize key cryopreservation parameters. This experience offers hands-on exposure to cell therapy drug product development and collaboration with cross-functional teams advancing innovative therapies for people living with T1D. **Key Responsibilities:**Over the course of this 6-month Co-op, the individual will contribute to the following project deliverables:* Establish a standardized cryo-microscopy workflow for real-time imaging of stem cell-derived islets during CPA loading, unloading, and controlled freeze/thaw cycles, including sample preparation, staining, imaging, and data-capture procedures.* Design and execute cryopreservation studies using selected CPA formulations and loading/unloading strategies, generating cryo-microscopy datasets to characterize islet morphology and response across conditions.* Develop an initial computational modeling framework that complements experimental cryo-microscopy data. Model the correlation between CPA diffusion kinetics, islet size and morphology, and cryopreservation process parameters.* Integrate experimental and computational results to characterize CPA diffusion kinetics and islet response across formulations and process conditions. Use findings to identify promising CPA formulations and loading/unloading strategies and guide next steps for screening and cryopreservation process optimization.* Maintain detailed, accurate records of experimental activities, methods, data, analyses, and conclusions in electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs). Author study reports, technical summaries, and standardized protocols for the established cryo-microscopy and computational modeling workflows. **Qualifications:*** Currently pursuing a graduate degree (PhD and master’s are preferred); or undergraduate degree in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical or Biochemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Biology, or a related scientific discipline.* Experience with mammalian cell culture, including aseptic technique, routine cell culture handling, media preparation, and sample preparation; experience with stem cells or stem cell-derived products is preferred.* Foundational knowledge of cell cryopreservation and hands-on experience with cell freezing and thawing; experience with cell aggregates, spheroids, organoids, or other three-dimensional cell systems is a plus.* Experience with cell microscopy, including sample preparation, cell staining, image acquisition, and image-based evaluation; experience with cryo-microscopy is a plus.* Knowledge of and/or experience with computational modeling approaches relevant to molecular dynamics, diffusion kinetics, or cryopreservation processes.* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with the ability to independently troubleshoot experimental challenges, manage priorities, and maintain accurate documentation and attention to detail in a fast-paced laboratory environment.* Highly motivated and collaborative team player with strong communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to learn new techniques while contributing to complex, high-impact process development work.* Legal authorization to work in the United States, now and in the future. Please note that Vertex does not provide sponsorship for internships/co-ops or entry level roles within this part of the organization.* You must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before June 2027* You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from January – July 2027**Program Details:** * Full-time, paid co-op $30.00 – 50.00 USD/hour* Program Dates: January – July 2027* Application Deadline: November 15th, 2026 **At Vertex, we believe that when you feel your best, you can perform at your best. That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you.**• Free 24/7 onsite gym access and free access to group exercise classes• Subsidized commuter benefits- transit and parking• Provided meals—free breakfast daily!• Career development opportunities and events, including C Suite engagement• Social events—both intern-only and company-wide• Location-specific perks and extras!• Recognition of National Intern Day **Our Ways of Working** Flex Designation: On-Site - BostonFlex Eligibility Status: On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility. Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time. *This job posting is for a temporary role with a third-party agency partner that provides services to Vertex. The individual selected for this role will be offered the role as an employee of that third-party agency; compensation, medical benefits, fringe benefits and other terms and conditions of employment shall be presented by the third-party agency upon offer.*