Pathology Senior Principal Research Scientist

Job Description

Pathology Senior Principal Research Scientist, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (Boston)

Preclinical Safety Assessment (PSA) is a global function responsible for the design and conduct of comprehensive nonclinical safety programs for the evaluation of Vertex therapies at all stages of discovery and development.  Vertex Pharmaceuticals uses cutting edge science and technology to perform robust assessments of novel therapies for the treatment of the most serious diseases with unmet medical need.  Our culture enables individual empowerment where We Wins, Fearless Pursuit of Excellence, and Innovation are more than just corporate values; they are part of our everyday lives.  PSA pathologists have significant roles in the drug development process beginning in early discovery and continuing through the entire drug development value chain resulting in successful registration and marketing approval.

Key Responsibilities:

• Scientific leadership in the design, conduct and interpretation of pathology endpoints for animal model development, target identification/validation, and in vivo pharmacology and nonclinical biomarker development studies including the use of cutting-edge molecular diagnostic and digital imaging technologies
• Prepares photographic or video images of pathology specimens for use in group or project presentations, reports, publications and/or presentations

• Anatomic pathology evaluation of investigative pathology and regulatory toxicity studies from lead identification/optimization through registration and post-marketing approval
• Scientific leadership in discovery, translational research, and regulatory nonclinical safety profiling activities as a key partner on cross-functional teams within Vertex, working with a high-functioning multidisciplinary team of preclinical safety and biomarker scientists including a Board-certified veterinary clinical pathologist and an extensive network of external consultants and contract research organizations
• Participation in regulatory submission document preparation, poster presentations and scientific publications, including addressing queries from global health authorities
• The position includes opportunities for potential additional roles including:
  Preclinical safety representative on discovery and/or development project teams

Minimal Requirements:

• DVM or equivalent and ACVP/ECVP board certification in veterinary anatomic pathology
• PhD in a relevant scientific discipline is strongly preferred
• 1-3 years of experience in discovery and/or toxicologic pathology in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology sector, or in the gross and histologic assessment of laboratory animals
• Practical experience using imaging technologies and molecular diagnostic pathology techniques to understand the pathologic basis of disease and support drug discovery and development would be preferred
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communications, strong interpersonal skills, critical thinking and issue resolution skills, and scientific collaboration, guidance, and mentoring of non-DVM scientists and laboratory associates
• Ability to contribute to decision making in a manner that is timely and consensus based, and to foster productive dialogue on complex topics
• Experience with new modalities (genetic and cell therapies) as well as experience in IHC/ISH, multiplex imaging, digital pathology tools, and interpretation of tissue-based biomarkers would be a plus
• Drive the adoption of innovative AI-powered solutions to enhance efficiency and accuracy in histopathology processes

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Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this On-Site designated role, you will work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.  

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

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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 [email protected]