Vertex Spring Co-Op 2027, Process Development

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 techniqu