The Faces of Luminex: Don Chandler, Chemistry R&D
Don Chandler has been with Luminex almost since the start, joining in the early days when we were developing a new bead-based multiplexing technology. Now Senior Director of Chemistry R&D, he earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and his Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin. In our chat with him, we learned that Chandler once played in the division II national championship rugby finals!
Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?
A: We’ve been inventing and developing for the last 20 years or so. We invented the reagents used for the Luminex xMAP® Technology — the beads and the dyes — and that’s what the entire system is based on. We’ve developed a number of proprietary dyes and some novel dyeing processes.
Q: What drew you to Luminex?
A: After finishing my Ph.D., I went to work for Dow Chemical, and later started a company making chemicals. But at that time, my three brothers were working at Luminex and dealing with some issues with their bead provider. So in the summer of 1996, I decided to join Luminex to help out. It was a project out of necessity: the company needed a reliable internal supply of dyed beads. It was a fun project, and I was happy to be involved.
Q: What do you remember most about those early days?
A: When we first started, the whole concept of multiplexing was new to the field. Our sales team and assay experts would go out into the field and give seminars, and they could see the light flick on as people realized the possibilities. They saw how powerful it could be. Since we were one of the first liquid-based multiplexed assays, we got pretty quick acceptance in the marketplace and grew fast.
Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?
A: I’m sure it would be in chemistry. I guess I would probably have a small chemical company that filled some niche need since I like the idea of running my own business.
Q: What got you interested in a career in chemistry?
A: There’s something about creating something that’s never existed on Earth before, holding it in your hand and knowing that nobody’s ever done that. It’s a neat feeling. It’s also an interesting challenge to manipulate things that you can’t see and force a system to do what you want.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: My best friend died recently of pancreatic cancer, so I would like to have an impact there.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: I once ran with the bulls in Pamplona. I got pretty close to them but didn’t get hurt. It was the summer between college and grad school, and we mainly went there because it’s a fun party. It was interesting because you do get pretty close to the bulls at times and you know there’s a possibility of danger.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?
A: Nowadays it’s golf or just working around the house. I have a wood shop where I build things, from furniture to anything else I need. I’m not very accomplished, but it’s fun to try out different tools.
I also really enjoy fishing. I have fished all over the world, and almost always bring a fly rod on my travels–just in case I get a chance to catch something new.
