Summer Intern 2027, Pathobiology

Your Impact

The Vertex Pathobiology Intern is an 11-week experiential training program for students enrolled in a degree program. The intern will gain meaningful experience in PCS-Pathobiology functional areas.

What you will be doing

The department of Pathobiology includes members with broad and diverse scientific expertise in anatomic and clinical pathology, histology, and image analysis providing support to discovery and developmental efforts on Vertex portfolio. The intern will work in the development and optimization of advanced imaging and tissue analysis workflows to identify and characterize specific cell populations within biological samples. The intern will potentially use laser-capture microdissection for downstream molecular profiling, enabling spatially informed pathobiology assessments.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan the analysis: Review available tissue samples, candidate markers, controls, and existing protocols with the project team. Deliver a proposed experimental plan and success criteria early in the internship.
• Optimize multiplex staining: Test staining conditions and assess signal quality and reproducibility. Deliver documented results, representative images, and recommendations for an updated protocol.
• Develop image analysis: Acquire or review tissue images and help refine methods to identify and quantify transplanted cells and neighboring populations. Deliver annotated images, preliminary measurements, and a documented analysis workflow.
• Explore molecular profiling, if feasible: Assist with selecting tissue regions and performing LCM under supervision. Deliver a feasibility summary and properly tracked samples for downstream analysis, if the work proceeds.
• Communicate results: Maintain accurate experimental records, provide regular progress updates, and present findings, limitations, and recommended next steps at the end of the internship.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate training program in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, biomedical sciences, or a related field.
• At least one year of hands-on experience with immunoassays such as immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Western blotting, as well as experience performing PCR.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required along with exposure to pathology image-analysis platforms and a working knowledge of biostatistics and basic molecular biology concepts.
• 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 May 2027.
• You must be available to work full-time, 40 hours per week from May – August 2027.