A method of making a vertical transistor device includes forming a front gate and a back gate opposite a major surface of a substrate. The front gate and the back gate are symmetric and arranged on opposing sides of a channel between the front gate and the back gate. The channel extends from a drain to a source. The method includes disposing a mask to cover the front gate and removing the back gate. The method further includes replacing the back gate with a layer of insulator and another back gate stack. The another back gate stack only covers a junction between the channel and the source, and remaining portions of the back gate are the layer of insulator.