Biology laboratory scientist (DI) degree apprenticeship - Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Cogent Ssc Limited

Abingdon (OX14 4RW)

Closes in 26 days (Tuesday 24 March 2026)

Posted on 25 February 2026

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Summary

This role will involve working to support our high throughput biology team, where we look to discover small molecules that correct disease biology, understand how they are working and optimise them towards drugs. The role will entail the understanding and use of proteins and cell types that drive disease biology.

• Wage:

  £20,000 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

• Training course: Scientist (level 6)
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 17:30 with a 1 hour unpaid lunch break. Flexible hours / working available.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 7 September 2026

• Duration:

  5 years

• Positions available:

  1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Job Responsibilities

The role will involve working within our dynamic Integrative Biology team. We use state-of-the-art biological techniques to discover small molecules that could correct disease biology, and understand how the molecules are working to optimise them towards drugs.

The role will entail the use of cutting-edge scientific equipment to measure disease protein or cells and robotic automation to enable sample management and reagent preparation.

You will be imbedded within a wider organisation that is dedicated to drug discovery and benefit from the passion and knowledge of your colleagues. Regular discussions, talks and presentations from within and outside the organisation will allow you to learn about and understand disease biology, the drug discovery process and how medicines work.

Understanding and working to strict safety and ethical guidelines is paramount to this role. The apprentice will be expected to work both individually and as part of a laboratory team. With appropriate time, training and experience, they will be able to work with minimum supervision, taking responsibility for the quality, accuracy and recording of the work that is undertaken. They will be proactive in finding solutions to problems and helping identify ways to improve processes.

At the end of the Apprenticeship, the Apprentice will be able to:

• Prepare for and perform laboratory tasks using the appropriate scientific techniques, procedures and methods relevant to the activities of the laboratory
• Apply knowledge of underlying scientific principles in laboratory-based experimentation and implement new processes according to the literature or input from colleagues
• Demonstrate and explain the principles of laboratory techniques and scientific experimentation to contribute to the development of scientific technical projects
• Develop and apply theoretical knowledge of the advanced science and technology required to progress in the job role and relevant area of specialism
• Understand the business environment in which the company operates, including personal role within the organisation, ethical practice and codes of conduct
• Work safely within a laboratory environment, maintaining excellent housekeeping whilst following appropriate safety, environment and risk management systems
• Promote and ensure the application of quality standards relevant to the workplace
• Work autonomously to analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results of laboratory work and problem-solving clearly and concisely in written and oral form
• Undertake continuous performance improvement within the scientific and technical environment
• Use creative thinking and problem-solving to challenge assumptions, innovate, make new proposals and build on existing ideas
• Plan and prioritise tasks, review and evaluate progress against objectives and investigate alternative scenarios
• Communicate effectively using a full range of skills: speaking to a scientific and non-scientific audience, active listening, professional writing, professional body language, scientific presentation
• Demonstrate reliability, integrity and respect for confidentiality in work-related and personal matters, including appropriate use of social media and information systems
• Interact effectively within a wide, multidisciplinary project team
• Understand the impact of work on others
• Manage time effectively, being able to plan and complete work to schedule
• Able to handle change and respond to change management processes
• Take responsibility for personal development, demonstrating commitment to learning and self-improvement

Where you'll work

86-88 Jubilee Avenue
Milton Park, Milton
Abingdon
OX14 4RW

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT

Training course

Scientist (level 6)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
• Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
• Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
• Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
• Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
• Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
• Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
• Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
• Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
• Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
• Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
• Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
• Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
• Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
• Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
• Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
• Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
• Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
• Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
• Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.
• Apply chemical concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out chemical science investigations.
• Recommend synthetic pathways to target-compounds and design experimental activities to test predictions.
• Design and deploy purification, isolation and characterisation strategies, taking account of physicochemical properties of elements and compounds.
• Design, develop and carry out qualitative and quantitative sample preparation, chemical measurement, and analysis.
• Critically compare the results of theoretical or computational modelling with those from experiment and observation.
• Apply physics theories to solve problems that cross scientific discipline boundaries.
• Apply computational techniques to analysis and model physical behaviour.
• Apply physics concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out physics based investigations.
• Use mathematical techniques and theories to solve physics problems.
• Use computer programming software to solve physics based problems.
• Critically analyse current and emerging developments in the biosciences and the contribution of Biosciences to the wider industry.
• Apply Biological concepts and theories to investigations.
• Design, develop and carry out biological investigations
• Perform tasks related to sample preparation and culturing techniques.
• Use of laboratory automation systems.
• Perform sampling with consideration for sample variation.
• Identify and apply scientific approaches to solve problems, support investigations and recommend any follow-up experiments.
• Evaluate scientific experiments using an appropriate level of qualitative and quantitative numerical analysis.
• Critically analyse data, relevant literature and input from colleagues to inform investigations.
• Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and present the results in written and oral form.
• Manage record keeping to ensure data integrity, traceability, confidentiality and adherence with appropriate regulatory requirements.
• Promote, enact, document, and monitor the application of quality standards, safe working practices and compliance with risk management systems relevant to the role.
• Identify opportunities to challenge assumptions and apply influencing skills to make improvements, make new proposals and build on existing ideas.
• Manage work plan, prioritise tasks and evaluate progress against objectives.
• Contribute to the development of technical projects across multi-skilled teams and share best practice across the wider business.
• Conduct complex (chemical, or physical, or biological) scientific investigations in accordance with defined company procedures and legislative requirements.
• Identify and implement continuous performance improvement using appropriate techniques.
• Ensure work meets environmental, risk management and sustainability requirements and regulations of the business sector.
• Evaluate own performance and knowledge, and set personal development goals.
• Troubleshoot equipment selection and implement sustainable solutions.
• Identify and collaborate with key stakeholders and provide technical support and advice where required.
• Identify how other roles in the organisation can contribute to achieving sustainability goals.
• Select and apply equipment, techniques, and methods to ensure reliable and accurate results.
• Undertake practical analyses and measurement and communicate the outcomes using appropriate terminology and mathematical and graphical notation.
• Use appropriate digital solutions for the collection and analysis of data, and the retrieval of appropriate information.
• Use communication methods suited to objective and audience.
• Use theoretical models, often involving approximations, to make quantitative predictions.

Training schedule

Online training.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

Min 5 inc. Maths English Science (grade 4/C or above)

A Level in:

Biology (grade a minimum of 80 UCAS points)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative

About this employer

As the specialists in skills for science and technology, our purpose is to make sure your business; your people and our industry are future ready. We are a not-for-profit charitable organisation with a family of commercially focused companies committed to supporting the skills, needs and ambitions across the UK science and technology sector.

https://cogentskills.com/vacancies/ (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply for other positions within the business. The training will expose the apprentice to a wide range of skills and competencies which would make them well-placed for further study or suitable for many job opportunities in the life sciences sector.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Cogent Ssc Limited

Tom Bretherton

thomas.bretherton@cogentskills.com

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017701.

Apply now

Closes in 26 days (Tuesday 24 March 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.