Job Description

The Vertex Internship Program offers students the opportunity to learn about the pharmaceutical industry from a hands-on perspective. You will be working closely with and learning from some of the brightest people in the industry. When you join our internship program you should not be surprised to see that our environment is one that is innovative and team oriented, where collaboration is not just a word, and "we are relentless" is in everything we do. Students can expect to be challenged by their project plan, connect with other interns,and feel valued by the Vertex community. Not only will interns learn about their day-to-day tasks through their specific work assignments, but they will interact and have exposure to our organizational leaders and their teams.

Job Summary:

The Predictive and Investigative Safety Assessment group (PISA) is looking for an intern to analyze a rat kidney transcriptomic data and/or conduct a predictive weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). This project will lay the foundation to the identification of key molecular pathways and biomarkers related to kidney toxicity, and will support the development of a systems toxicology framework for better understanding and predicting drug-induced kidney damage. The intern will gain valuable experience in bioinformatics and predictive toxicology.

Key Responsibilities:

The intern will build a signed weighted gene co-expression network using a rat kidney microarray dataset, experiment with different WGCNA parameters, and perform a correlation analysis to identify key genes driving co-expression patterns. To achieve these tasks, the intern will adapt from the publicly available codebase of WGCNA and collaborate with SMEs in PISA and DCS (Data & Computational Science) to validate the workflow. In addition, the intern is expected to document their code thoroughly, learn/apply the best practices of computational tool development, and present their progress in formal and informal settings.

Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in any of the following areas: Life Sciences with a strong computational focus, Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Science with a strong interest in biology
• Experience with programming (R/Bioconductor)
• Strong work ethic with excellent scientific skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Knowledge of one or more of the following:Statistics, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics, Toxicology, Preclinical Safety
• Permanent legal authorization to work in the United States
• Candidate must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before June 2025
• Candidate must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from June - September 2025

Program Dates: June - September 2025, Full Time

Pay Range $26.00 - $50.00 USD/hour

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. The range provided is a reasonable estimate for the pay range for this job at the time of posting. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. The actual pay rate will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com