Vertex Fall Co-op 2026, Data and Computational Sciences

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 Data and Computational Sciences co-op program is a 6-month experiential training program for students currently working towards a 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 looking for exceptional candidates to assist with early stage research on active drug discovery programs at Vertex in San Diego. The project will entail integration of physics-based simulation techniques with AI methods for application in small molecule lead optimization programs. No prior experience working in industry is required.

The successful candidate will be working alongside experienced computational chemists and medicinal chemistry partners. Projects are designed to deliver tangible scientific outcomes and to build skills directly relevant to careers in pharmaceutical R&D.

Responsibilities:

• The candidate will be expected to perform computational experiments to test hypotheses and develop methods
• The candidate must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team
• The candidate should be able to develop and implement data analyses
• The candidate will be required to regularly present their progress in formal and informal settings to colleagues
• The candidate will interface with colleagues in other departments, such as DMPK, Medicinal Chemistry, Scientific Computing, or Structural Biology, as dictated by the project

What you will need to succeed:

• Ph.D. students in computational chemistry or a related STEM field (chemistry, physics, computer science, structural biology) highly preferred

• Experience with scripting (Python is preferred but Perl, R, Bash, or another language is acceptable)

• Strong work ethic with excellent scientific skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (AMBER, OpenMM, or other programs) [preferred]

• Scientific toolkits for chemistry or simulations (CPPTRAJ, RDKit, OpenEye, or others) [preferred]

• Free energy calculations (FEP+, double decoupling, pathway-based methods, or other tools) [preferred]

• Statistics [preferred]

• 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