Vertex Summer 2026 Intern, Formulation Development, Small Molecule

Vertex Inc.•Boston, MA

1d•$20 - $32•Hybrid

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! Your Impact The Vertex Formulation Development Small Molecule internship program is a multi-week experiential training program for students currently working towards a Doctorate degree in an Engineering or Science field (Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry), or a related field of study. If you are passionate, collaborative, and growth-minded, an internship at Vertex will help you gain meaningful experience in our formulation functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career. 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/internships/) Thank you for respecting our process and helping us maintain a fair experience for all candidates. What you will be doing: We are seeking a motivated summer intern to join our Formulation Development Department at Vertex in Boston, MA. The Formulation Development group focuses on developing small-molecule formulation and processes to bring transformative medicines to patients. The intern will work closely with formulation scientists to develop an in-process control container closure integrity method to determine the oxygen level in lyophilized drug products. The intern will develop a workflow to determine the oxygen ingress rate into vials, using laser headspace analysis. The intern will plan and execute experiments, analyze data, and present results to the team. This internship will also provide an opportunity to learn about parenteral drug development process. Review literature of Lyophilization theory / process, and equipment familiarization Review literature and understand the importance of container closure integrity for parenteral drug products Understand theory of FMS-Oxygen Headspace Analyzer and equipment familiarization Sample preparation by lyophilization of drug product filled at different N2 pressure, including positive controls Establish a model and workflow to determine the time required for oxygen ingress into the vials and establish a predictable detection limit Develop an in-process control container closure integrity method based on oxygen headspace for parenteral lyophilized drug product vials Participate in group discussion and present project updates, including a final project summary to the broader department at the end of the internship

Requirements

Must be currently enrolled in a PhD program in engineering/science field (Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical engineering, Chemistry or similar).
Minimum GPA of 3.2
Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to think critically.
Strong math skills particularly as applied to material/energy balances, and intermediate applied statistical analysis
Ability to work effectively and comfortably in a multi-disciplinary team under defined timelines
Hands-on experience in parenteral formulation development techniques
Legal authorization to work in the United States, now and in the future.
You must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before August 2026
You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from May – August 2026

Nice To Haves

Hands on experience in lyophilization is a plus
Please note that Vertex does not provide sponsorship for internships or entry level roles within this part of the organization.

Responsibilities

The intern will work closely with formulation scientists to develop an in-process control container closure integrity method to determine the oxygen level in lyophilized drug products.
The intern will develop a workflow to determine the oxygen ingress rate into vials, using laser headspace analysis.
The intern will plan and execute experiments, analyze data, and present results to the team.
Review literature of Lyophilization theory / process, and equipment familiarization
Review literature and understand the importance of container closure integrity for parenteral drug products
Understand theory of FMS-Oxygen Headspace Analyzer and equipment familiarization
Sample preparation by lyophilization of drug product filled at different N2 pressure, including positive controls
Establish a model and workflow to determine the time required for oxygen ingress into the vials and establish a predictable detection limit
Develop an in-process control container closure integrity method based on oxygen headspace for parenteral lyophilized drug product vials
Participate in group discussion and present project updates, including a final project summary to the broader department at the end of the internship