Top Navigation
United States
Choose your region
Don’t see your region/country
listed? Visit our global website
Related content
Chief Human Resources Officer Stephanie Franklin discusses our unique culture at Vertex and how we bring our culture to life.
Meet three students who flourished in our 2024 Learning Lab summer internship programs in Boston, San Diego and Oxford, U.K.
Join us as we celebrate 16 years of giving back at Vertex.
In this section
Our scientists don’t see the impossible as an obstacle; they see it as a good place to start
See where our scientific discoveries happen
Volunteers who participate in clinical trials help make new medicines a reality
In this section
Our comprehensive programs provide personalized support throughout the treatment journey with a Vertex medicine
Facts about cystic fibrosis (CF), including prevalence and the numbers of people with CF around the world estimated to be on CFTR modulators
Information about our Expanded Access program and how we evaluate requests
In this section
We work with the kidney community to ensure their voices are represented in all that we do
See how we’re engaging with the sickle cell disease community
Volunteers who participate in clinical trials help make new medicines a reality
In this section
Read more about how we operate our business responsibly, and how in 2024 we created more ways to positively impact patients, employees, our communities and the environment
Discover how we’re inspiring and equipping the next generation to love science and pursue a career in STEM
Explore our commitment to limiting our environmental impacts and operating our business in a sustainable manner
Related content
Chief Human Resources Officer Stephanie Franklin discusses Vertex’s inclusive benefits and how they are helping Vertexians.
We’re continuously adapting our benefit offerings to support our unique culture
We invest in each of our employees so they can continue to grow and thrive professionally
One of the things that makes Vertex special, besides the work we do in our labs and on behalf of patients, is our deep and longstanding commitment to inspiring future innovators and opening the door to educational opportunities.
The Vertex Science Leaders Scholarship is an integral part of our global STEAM education program. Since 2014, we’ve welcomed many students, who have not only participated in our program but many have also launched successful careers in the life sciences. We’re excited to introduce you to four outstanding Vertex Scholars who will receive financial support to attend any four-year institution in the U.S. and pursue a STEM-related degree. These students will also have the opportunity to return to Vertex next summer as college interns.
As a first-generation student, Fatuma’s decision to pursue public health at San Diego State University was influenced by her passion for watching medical YouTube videos and visiting the hospital with her mother. “I recall being at the hospital with my mother and seeing how difficult it was for her to understand the situation. What struck me was how our family doctor took the time to explain the situation, provide information to my mother and me, and guide us through the process,” said Fatuma. For her, that was the pivotal moment that transformed her life and motivated her to dedicate herself to making a positive impact.
During her summer internship this year, Fatuma was excited to be able to work alongside so many talented scientists: “Now that I’m here, I’m surprised about everything… I love the fact that some of the machines we have in our labs are made by people at Vertex.”
As one of four Vertex Science Leaders Scholars, Fatuma is thrilled about what lies ahead. “This scholarship is a great opportunity financially,” she said. “I’m able to put myself through school, and I know at the end of the day, I have someone [Vertex] who can support me and help me every step of the way.”
Before she dives into the next chapter of her life, Fatuma shared some words of wisdom for anyone considering applying, “Just take the step and apply! Don’t be afraid.” We can’t wait to see what she’ll achieve!
Meet Josh, a dedicated volunteer, gamer and passionate cook, who loves to grill and cook barbeque favorites. This fall, he’s headed to the University of California at San Diego to study pre-med with the goal of becoming a dermatologist.
His passion for STEM began by playing his favorite video games and when a skin condition led him to see a dermatologist. “When I was diagnosed with a medical condition, I felt helpless,” he said. “But thanks to my dermatologist, everything changed to the point where my situation improved… And that inspired me to follow the same path.” Since then, Josh has been fueled by a passion to change the world and dedicate himself to bringing hope to those around him.
Josh spent the summer as an intern in our San Diego Learning Lab, and he was especially excited to build connections and get to know the scientists who are working on our incredible research. An eye-opening realization for Josh was discovering that interns are our colleagues: “Being here is a very different experience! People have a lot of advice… My perspective about what an intern does has completely changed.”
Driven to change the world, we’re confident that his determination will lead him to achieve his dream.
One driving force for Julio is the continual pursuit of answering the question, “What if?”
As a returning scholar, his goal was to maximize every opportunity presented to him and learn to complete projects independently. His pursuit of “What if?” led him to working at our Jeffrey Leiden Center for Biologics, Cell & Genetic Therapies I, or Leiden I, with a focus on DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 
As he plans for the next chapter of his life, Julio is considering studying at Boston University with the hope of becoming a pharmacologist and researcher. “For me this scholarship is more than just a number in an email or paper. It represents the fact that people believed in me and entrusted me to become a leader in science,” he said. “Because of that, I want to repay them, and I want them to trust me with this opportunity.”
For Julio, nothing is impossible; in fact, his motto is, “No day will ever be a bad day if you at least get 1% better every day.”
Since childhood, Pierre has always been passionate about solving complex math problems and pursuing a life guided by philosophy. Also a returning Scholar, Pierre interned with our Data, Technology and Engineering team this year and gained valuable experience in managing trade and logistics for non-commercial shipments. “I have the opportunity to contribute to the enhancement of the shipping portal by suggesting improvements that focus on making [the] user interface more intuitive and user friendly,” said Pierre.
After suffering a tremendous loss within his family due to a serious disease, Pierre is excited to work alongside scientists and other members of our Vertex team who are helping to make impactful changes. “I want to help! I want to be a change in the world.”
Pierre is excited to be able to take the next step in his career, and this scholarship will help him reach his goals: “This scholarship gives me an opportunity to make my dreams come true. I don’t have to worry about my finances; I only have to focus on being smarter and be a potential asset to the STEM world.”
For Pierre this is only the beginning. We look forward to seeing his impact as he begins his undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.
Join us in wishing our Scholars the best of luck as they pursue their academic and professional dreams!
Meet our 2024 Vertex Science Leaders Scholars 
+1.617.341.6100
News
Stay current on all things Vertex and discover the latest news, information and updates on our company.
Intended for media
Investors
Through our transformative medicines for patients, we drive value for our company, shareholders and society.
Stories
Discover more about our relentless efforts to improve the lives of patients, employees and our communities.
The information on this website is intended for residents of the United States only.
© 2025 Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
