Waterville, Maine - Welcome to Colby Athletics' summer spotlight series, where we take a look into what Colby student-athletes are working on over the summer break. Up next we have rising junior Juliana Kiley of Colby Softball. 

This summer, Juliana is interning at Vertex Pharmaceuticals on the Study Start-Up and Site Activation team, which plays a vital role in launching and managing clinical trials. She supports the early operational phases of studies across Vertex's key therapeutic areas, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, type 1 diabetes, and pain. Juliana's responsibilities include evaluating site feasibility, assisting with regulatory start-up processes, and collaborating closely with data management teams to ensure trial sites are activated efficiently and meet critical timelines. She also ensure the accuracy of internal metrics used to plan and estimate clinical trial duration, which supports informed decision-making and helps accelerate the drug development and approval process.

"This internship has given me valuable insight into how large-scale clinical research is structured and executed, and how cross-functional collaboration drives innovation in medicine," said Kiley. "I'm learning not only the technical aspects of clinical trial operations, but also the importance of precision, coordination, and ethical responsibility in advancing treatments for people with serious diseases. Being part of this work has deepened my appreciation for how impactful and far-reaching science can be—both for patients waiting for breakthroughs and for the future of global health."

Be on the lookout for more of our summer spotlight series.