Vertex Fall Co-op 2026, Computational Genomics

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.
   

Ready to apply? Submit your application and let’s turn possibilities into reality!

Your Impact
 The Vertex Computational Genomics co-op program is a 6-month experiential training program for students currently working towards an advanced or Doctoral degree. If you are passionate, collaborative, and growth-minded, a co-op at Vertex will help you gain meaningful experience in our Data and Computational Sciences functional areas and serve as a launchpad for your career.

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.

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.

What you will be doing:

We are seeking a highly motivated, graduate-level co-op student to join Vertex’s Computational Genomics team in San Diego to support the evaluation and application of single-cell foundation models for transcriptomics analysis across disease areas. This role will provide hands-on experience at the intersection of computational genomics, AI/ML, and drug discovery. 
 
The co-op will work on assessing publicly available single-cell (sc) foundation models and their utility for scRNA‑seq data analysis, including tasks such as cell type annotation and workflow automation. The candidate will develop and execute benchmarking analyses, compare model outputs with existing computational approaches and reference annotations, and communicate findings to cross-functional partners. This role is intended for a graduate-level student with a strong interest in single-cell genomics and the application of AI/ML methods to scRNA-seq data to derive biological insights that can support downstream decisions.

Responsibilities:

 • Evaluate publicly available single-cell foundation models for tasks relevant to Vertex genomics research, including cell type annotation and potential extension to in-silico perturbation and workflow automation. 
• Build and execute a computational cell type annotation framework to compare single-cell foundation model performance against manual labels and existing computational methods. 
• Perform data preprocessing, quality control, harmonization, annotation analysis, and downstream evaluation using Python- and/or R-based bioinformatics workflows. 
• Work in cloud or compute environments, including AWS and/or HPC infrastructure, to support scalable analysis of large genomics datasets. 
• Generate clear visualizations, summaries, and recommendations to communicate model performance, limitations, and opportunities for adoption to computational and biology stakeholders. 
• Collaborate with Computational Genomics scientists and cross-functional partners to interpret results and, if successful, help inform integration into existing analysis workflows. 
• Regularly share updates in both formal and informal meetings with the computational genomics team and AI working group, while keeping analysis documentation well-organized and reproducible. 

What you will need to succeed:

• Enrolled in a graduate program, pursuing a Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Genetics, Genomics, Computer Science, Statistics, or related quantitative/biological field.
• Familiarity with single-cell genomics data analysis and associated packages or frameworks (eg, Seurat or scanpy). 
• Experience with Python and/or R for scientific data analysis. 
• Experience working in AWS, Linux, or HPC/cluster environments for large-scale data analysis. 
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to plan, execute, and interpret computational analyses. 
• Strong written and verbal scientific communication skills. 
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment and to proactively seek guidance when needed. 
• Strong understanding of machine learning or statistical modeling for genomics applications. (preferred)
• Experience with benchmarking, evaluation metrics, and model comparison for high-dimensional biological data. (preferred)
• Familiarity with reproducible research practices such as version control, notebooks, documentation, and well-structured code organization. 
• Capacity to work onsite full-time in San Diego, CA
• 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 available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from July – December 2026

Program Details:

• Full-time, paid co-op $30.00 – 50.00 USD/hour
• Program Dates: July – December 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 Eligible

Flex 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.

Equal Opportunities
 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.

Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

Accessibility & Accommodations
 We're focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. Vertex is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. 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

Export Control Notice
 This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant's ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role, Vertex is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.

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.

Pay Range:

$0 - $0

Disclosure Statement:

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