Immunology Senior Research Scientist - Spatial Transcriptomics

Job Description

At Vertex, we invest in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases. Our growing Molecular Profiling team is seeking a Senior Scientist, Spatial Transcriptomics to provide scientific and deep technical expertise in spatial biology to support discovery, translational, and development programs. This role will be instrumental in driving mechanistic insights into disease biology, tissue microenvironments, and therapeutic response through spatial profiling of gene expression in tissue context.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in spatial transcriptomics, tissue-based molecular profiling, experimental design, and data interpretation, along with strong cross-functional collaboration skills and a passion for technical innovation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, execution, and optimization of spatial transcriptomics studies to address key biological questions in disease-relevant tissues and model systems
• Lead efforts to characterize tissue architecture, cellular microenvironments, cell-cell interactions, and spatial organization of biological processes
• Generate and interpret high-quality spatial data to derive biological insights that support disease biology, target biology, mechanism of action, and biomarker strategies
• Integrate spatial transcriptomics data with complementary datasets, including single-cell RNA-seq, proteomics, imaging, histology, and other molecular profiling approaches to enable multi-modal biological insights
• Develop, validate, and implement robust workflows for sample preparation, assay execution, quality control, and data review
• Evaluate and apply emerging spatial biology technologies to expand research capabilities and enable innovative scientific applications
• Drive adoption of best practices and contribute to establishing robust spatial biology workflows and standards across the team
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams across disease biology, pharmacology, translational medicine, biomarker sciences, bioinformatics, and clinical development to inform study design, data interpretation, and program strategy
• Contribute to internal scientific strategy through clear communication of results, technical recommendations, and experimental insights
• Prepare technical documentation, protocols, study summaries, and presentations
• Mentor junior scientists and help build a collaborative, high-performing team environment

Knowledge and Skills:

• Deep expertise in spatial transcriptomics and tissue-based molecular profiling
• Strong understanding of transcriptomics, RNA biology, tissue architecture, and cellular heterogeneity
• Experience with fresh frozen and FFPE tissue processing, tissue quality assessment, and assay optimization
• Familiarity with one or more spatial biology platforms, including sequencing-based and imaging-based technologies
• Experience integrating spatial data with single-cell, proteomic, imaging, and histologic datasets
• Working knowledge of computational approaches for spatial data analysis, visualization, and interpretation, including proficiency in R and/or Python and familiarity with relevant analysis tools and workflows
• Strong experimental rigor, problem-solving ability, and attention to data quality and reproducibility
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a matrixed, multidisciplinary environment

Education and Experience:

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or related discipline with 2+ years of relevant experience; or
• Master's degree with 6+ years of relevant experience; or
• Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with one or more spatial transcriptomics platforms (e.g., sequencing-based or imaging-based such as 10x Genomics Visium, Nanostring CosMx or similar technologies)
• Experience with histology, immunofluorescence, image analysis, and multiplexed tissue profiling
• Experience supporting drug discovery, translational research, or clinical biomarker development, ideally in immunology or inflammation
• Familiarity with single-cell RNA-seq analysis and integration of multi-omics datasets
• Experience in immunology and inflammation disease areas
• Knowledge of spatial proteomics or broader tissue-based profiling approaches

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.

#LI-Onsite

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 ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com