Our STEAM commitment
We have a longstanding commitment to inspire and equip the next generation to love science and pursue a career in STEM. Our STEAM education programs are all about getting young people excited about science early in life and showing them how fun and rewarding a career in our industry can be. Working with local educators and community organizations, we are intentional about creating opportunities for young women and students of color who have been traditionally underrepresented in biotech.
We have a longstanding commitment to inspire and equip the next generation to love science and pursue a career in STEM. Our STEAM education programs are all about getting young people excited about science early in life and showing them how fun and rewarding a career in our industry can be. Working with local educators and community organizations, we are intentional about creating opportunities for young women and students of color who have been traditionally underrepresented in biotech.
“Our STEAM education programs are not just about the facts students might learn or the experiments they might do. It’s about helping them connect with a teacher and introducing them to the scientists who work here. And I think that makes it real for them, that they could do it, too — and that's hope. That’s opportunity.”
David Altshuler, M.D., Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Global Research, and Chief Scientific Officer
Our STEAM initiatives
Our programs in Boston, San Diego and Oxford, U.K., have year-round opportunities for underresourced students in our communities, no matter where they are in their educational journey.
Creating space for learning
We bring science to life in our three on-site Learning Labs by taking classroom concepts and applying them to real-world problems. Our labs also give students access to technology and resources beyond what's available in school.
Supporting STEAM in the community
We partner with local educators and organizations to bring hands-on learning opportunities to more students in our communities.
Developing careers
We equip students with the tools they need to succeed in a STEM career beyond the classroom. This includes scholarships, mentorships with Vertex employees and internships in our labs.
Our Learning Labs
We started a first-of-its-kind partnership with Boston Public Schools in 2012 to bring more STEAM education opportunities to students.
Thomas M. Menino Learning Lab
The Thomas M. Menino Learning Lab is a 3,000-square-foot classroom and lab space in our Fan Pier site where Boston Public School teachers bring their students to meet and interact with Vertex employees and conduct hands-on experiments.
Developing careers
Internships
For aspiring, young STEM professionals, real-world lab experience is crucial — but can be hard to come by.
Every summer for more than a decade, we offer paid summer internships to Boston Public Schools high school students and provide opportunities for students to explore the business of biotech, strengthen their STEM skills and knowledge, and cultivate a professional network. Our High School Summer Internship program is run in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council and the Mayor’s Summer Jobs program.
Classroom enrichment
Throughout the school year, we welcome teachers and classes from Boston Public Schools into our Learning Lab to experience science and the world of biotech firsthand. Students get to participate in experiments, like a cystic fibrosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection activity, and meet and interact with Vertex employees.
Outside of our labs, we support field trips to the Boston Children’s Museum for younger students to explore the "power of play” and engage with exhibits that encourage curiosity and critical thinking.
Science Leaders Scholarship
The Vertex Science Leaders Scholarship was established in 2014 and is an integral component of our global STEAM commitment. Through this program, Vertex is inspiring future innovators, breaking down barriers and opening the door to educational opportunities. The four-year award can be used for tuition at any four-year school within the U.S. It also provides support for room and board, books, summer courses and more.
Our partners at Bottom Line, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income and first-generation-to-college students get to and through college, also provide mentorship and support to our scholars.
Learn more about our 2024 Science Leaders Scholars.
STEAM partners
Vertex and the Vertex Foundation support nonprofit organizations that help expand STEAM opportunities to more students in Boston, including:
San Diego is where our cystic fibrosis medicines were discovered and where we’re actively expanding our STEAM activities and outreach to support the San Diego community.
San Diego Learning Lab
Established in 2018, the San Diego Learning Lab is a 1,500-square-foot lab where students from the San Diego Unified School District can meet Vertex employees and conduct hands-on, real-world experiments.
Developing careers
Internships
For aspiring STEM professionals, real-world lab experience is crucial — but can be hard to come by.
Every summer, we offer paid summer internships to San Diego Unified School District high school students and provide opportunities for students to explore the business of biotech, strengthen their STEM skills and knowledge, and cultivate a professional network.
Classroom enrichment
Throughout the school year, we welcome teachers and classes from the San Diego Unified School District into our Learning Lab to experience science and the world of biotech firsthand. Students get to participate in experiments, like a designing a delayed release tablet, and meet and interact with Vertex employees.
Science Leaders Scholarship
The Vertex Science Leaders Scholarship was established in 2014 and is an integral component of our global STEAM commitment. Through this program, Vertex is inspiring future innovators, breaking down barriers and opening the door to educational opportunities. The four-year award can be used for tuition at any four-year school within the U.S. It also provides support for room and board, books, summer courses and more.
Our partners at Bottom Line, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income and first-generation-to-college students get to and through college, also provide mentorship and support to our scholars.
Learn more about our 2024 Science Leaders Scholars.
STEAM partners
Vertex and the Vertex Foundation support nonprofit organizations that help expand STEAM opportunities to more students in San Diego, including:
Our employees in Oxford, U.K. love welcoming students to our research site, and we’re actively expanding our STEAM activities and outreach to support the local community.
Oxford Learning Lab
Established and launched in 2021, our Oxford Learning Lab is a dedicated lab space for local students to meet Vertex employees and conduct hands-on, real-world experiments.
Developing careers
Internships
Every summer, we offer paid summer internships to Year 12 students in local Oxford and Didcot schools and provide opportunities for students to explore the business of biotech, strengthen their STEM skills and knowledge, and cultivate a professional network.
Classroom enrichment
Throughout the school year, we welcome teachers and classes from local Oxford and Didcot schools into our Learning Lab to experience science and the world of biotech firsthand. Students get to participate in experiments, like a sickle cell disease activity, and meet and interact with Vertex employees.
STEAM partners
Vertex and the Vertex Foundation support nonprofit organizations that help expand STEAM opportunities to more students in Oxford, including:
STEM Learning: We partner with STEM Learning, a partnership of government, charitable trusts and employers dedicated to providing STEM education and career support. The Vertex Foundation supports their ENTHUSE program, which is a two-year program that combines teacher development with student activities to provide ongoing support to local schools.
Science Oxford: Our support of Science Oxford, an independent charitable trust focused on encouraging and facilitating STEM programs, enables students to explore their love of science and appreciate its positive influence on society.