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.
Fatuma’s primary goal is simple: To help others
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!
Josh is dedicated to bringing hope to those around him
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.
Julio continually pursues the question, “What if?”
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.”
Pierre’s committed to changing the world
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