Vertex Fall Co-op 2026, Gene Editing Research

Vertex Pharmaceuticals•Boston, MA

1d•$26 - $50•Onsite

About The Position

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. Ready to apply? Submit your application and let’s turn possibilities into reality! Important Notice Regarding Internship and Co-op Inquiries At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, we are committed to providing a fair and structured recruitment process for all students interested in internship and co-op opportunities. To ensure consistency and equity, all student applications must go through our Early Talent Acquisition Team. Due to the high volume of interest, we are unable to respond to individual solicitation. Direct solicitation to Vertex employees- including senior leaders via email will result in removal from the recruiting process. We appreciate your enthusiasm and interest in Vertex. To be considered for internship or co-op roles, please apply directly through our official application channels. ( https://www.vrtx.com/careers/career-growth-and-opportunities/co-ops/ ) Thank you for respecting our process and helping us maintain a fair experience for all candidates. Your Impact The Vertex Gene Editing Research Co-op program is a 6-month experiential training program for students currently working towards a graduate degree in Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biomedical Engineering, 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 Gene Editing & Delivery functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career. The application deadline for this co-op is April 3rd. 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. What you will be doing: Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking a 6-month Co-op to join the gene editing and delivery team. This position will contribute to our research efforts in non-viral delivery and gene editing to treat life-threatening diseases. The candidate will work with team members to test and optimize candidate molecules for tissue/organ-specific targeting. The ideal candidate is expected to have experience in protein chemistry, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), and in vitro assays to analyze cellular uptake of candidate molecules.

Requirements

Ph.D. degree (degree obtained or currently pursuing) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, biomedical engineering or related disciplines.
Master’s degree (degree obtained or currently pursuing) in cellular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, biomedical engineering or related discipline.
Hands on experience in cell culture, protein chemistry (e.g. conjugation, purification and internalization etc.), bioanalytical methods (e.g. qPCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry etc.).
Capacity to work full-time onsite in Boston, MA.
Legal authorization to work in the United States, now and in the future.
Please note that Vertex does not provide sponsorship for internships or entry level roles within this part of the organization.
You must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before December 2026.
You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from July – December 2026.

Responsibilities

Test and optimize antibody conjugation methods for efficient protein labeling with small molecules and macromolecules.
Design assays to quantify protein internalization and uptake of LNPs in different cell types.
Maintain cell culture regularly to support in vitro assay development.
Screen and nominate new candidate molecules for tissue/organ-specific targeting.
Document study designs and experiment procedures using the electronic lab notebook.
Work in a cross-functional manner to learn new skills and disseminate acquired skills for effective teamwork and collaboration.
Present high-quality data to the team and department.