Toxicology Research Scientist

General Summary

The Predictive and Investigative Safety Assessment (PISA) group is seeking a candidate to join a dynamic team focused on transforming lives through the development of new treatments for serious diseases. This role supports preclinical safety assessment across the global research portfolio, leveraging advanced in vitro technologies, laboratory automation, and computational approaches.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Independently evaluate, design, and execute novel in vitro models to support early screening and investigative safety assessment.
• Strong focus on identifying and deploying fit-for-purpose investigative assays and methodologies to address emerging safety questions and inform drug development decisions.
• Leverage laboratory automation and data analytics tools to accelerate the execution, analysis, and interpretation of medium- to high-throughput experiments evaluating toxicological endpoints.
• Partner closely with Research and Preclinical Sciences colleagues to investigate mechanisms of toxicity and assess human relevance in support of actionable safety strategies and candidate progression.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to guide the development, implementation, and continuous refinement of approaches to improve the prediction and translation of drug safety risks.
• Serve as a key scientific interpreter and communicator of laboratory findings, translating results from diverse safety assays into clear insights for stakeholders.
• Present critical data and recommendations clearly and effectively to project teams, cross-functional partners, and Vertex leadership, as needed.
• Evaluate emerging cellular models, screening platforms, and data analytics innovations in toxicology to strengthen and expand internal capabilities.
• Mentor and support junior scientists, with opportunities for formal supervisory responsibilities.
• Build and maintain external collaborations across academic and industrial settings to further enhance Vertex’s discovery toxicology capabilities.

Knowledge And Skills

• Demonstrated expertise in the design, execution, and interpretation of biochemical and cell-based screening assays.
• Strong hands-on experience in cell culture and assay development, including immortalized cell lines, iPSC-derived models, and/or primary cells systems.
• Experience in immunoassay development and execution is preferred, including multiplexed ELISA platforms, as well as cellular immunophenotyping by flow cytometry.
• Proficiency in R, Python, MATLAB, or similar scripting languages.
• Broad foundation in cellular and molecular biology techniques, particularly in multi-well plate-based experimental formats.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to derive clear insights from complex datasets and define appropriate follow-up strategies.
• Excellent writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong scientific curiosity and desire to work in the discovery toxicology and drug safety.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced research environment while managing multiple priorities and contributing at a high scientific level.

Other Requirements

• Strong desire and aptitude to serve as both a wet-laboratory and computational scientist.
• Motivated and adaptable self-starter, with a strong desire to impact project progression.
• Demonstrated track record of effective collaboration and teamwork in multi-disciplinary research environments.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced setting.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's, Master’s, or PhD degree
• PhD and 2+ years of academic or pharmaceutical industry experience
• Master’s degree and 5+ years of academic or pharmaceutical industry experience
• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience

Pay Range

$101,600 - $152,400