Vertex Summer 2025 Intern, Medicinal Chemistry (San Diego, CA)

Job Description

The Vertex Internship Program offers students the opportunity to learn about the pharmaceutical industry from a hands-on perspective. You will be working closely with and learning from some of the brightest people in the industry. When you join our internship program you should not be surprised to see that our environment is one that is innovative and team oriented, where collaboration is not just a word, and "we are relentless" is in everything we do. Students can expect to be challenged by their project plan, connect with other interns,and feel valued by the Vertex community. Not only will interns learn about their day-to-day tasks through their specific work assignments, but they will interact and have exposure to our organizational leaders and their teams.

Job Summary:

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a highly innovative company that creates transformative medicines to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases. Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking a highly motivated chemist to join the chemistry team at the San Diego site as a summer intern. The intern will perform organic reactions and reaction development to synthesize screening libraries. They will have the opportunity to work with members of the chemical biology team, the chemistry team, executive staff and other teams at the San Diego site.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop reaction conditions for miniaturized-scale parallel syntheses
• Examine the chemical literature towards efficient route-scouting and reaction development
• Rationally execute reaction optimization to improve product yields
• Purify reaction mixtures using various chromatography techniques
• Characterize purified molecules using spectroscopy tools
• Integrate synthesized compounds with screening assays in a cross-functional setting
• Maintain a detailed description of experimental procedures and results in an electronic notebook
• Communicate results clearly and effectively in both written and verbal formats

Qualifications:

• Candidate must be enrolled in a PhD program in one of the following areas: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Polymer Chemistry or a related field
• Have knowledge of organic chemistry and reaction mechanisms/method optimization
• Have hands-on experience performing experiments in a chemistry lab setting
• Have a practical knowledge of characterization techniques and use of instrumentation such as nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (i.e., NMR) and liquid chromatography instruments
• Permanent legal authorization to work in the United States
• Candidate must be enrolled in an advanced degree program if graduating before June 2025
• Candidate must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from June - September 2025

Program Dates: June - September 2025, Full Time

Pay Range $33.00 - $50.00 USD/hour

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. The range provided is a reasonable estimate for the pay range for this job at the time of posting. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. The actual pay rate will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

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