MENTOR PROFILE

 

 

Doug Buckley
Vice President,
Biochemistry
Exelixis

 

When did you first realize you wanted to go into science? Were you a child, adolescent, young adult?

I guess you could say science runs in my family. Both of my parents are chemists. They met while working at General Foods in Minneapolis and my dad worked at Pfizer in Groton for over 35 years. My high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Tetreau, “sealed the deal” with his incredible and infectious enthusiasm for the subject.

 

What was the MOST effective attribute/characteristic of your FAVORITE career mentor, and how did that help you?

My favorite career mentor, Armin Ramel, was the Vice President of Development at the first company I worked for. By the time he arrived at Scios, he had already worked two full careers at Roche and Genentech and was well past normal retirement age. Since my boss was a chemical engineer and couldn’t really help me with thorny protein chemistry issues, I started meeting weekly with Armin to discuss the scientific problems in my group, but those discussions moved far beyond the day-to-day issues into where my career was going, informal management training, and work-life balance issues. I felt that I could ask Armin about anything, even when it came time to look for a job elsewhere. He would always provide sage advice based upon his years of experience. I still have a file of notes that I took during our discussions and I’ll never forget the passion that Armin brought to both his science and his life. He was a true role model.

 

Where were you born and raised?

I spent my first 17 years in Groton, Ct, and went to the local public schools there.

 

Where did you receive your formal educational training?

My undergraduate degree is from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where I double majored in chemistry and economics. After I graduated, I stayed on for two years as a Teaching Fellow in Chemistry, then on to the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) to get my Ph.D. from the Interdisciplinary Program in Endocrinology. I met my wife at UCSF in the histology lab while cramming for the final! We moved to Boston for her residency and my postdoc at Mass General and Harvard, but after four years in Boston we were ready to return to California, so I took a job with California Biotechnology Inc., which later became Scios Inc.

 

Who do you most admire, and why? (It can be a living or deceased person – someone famous or whom you know personally and does not have to be a scientist)

I guess if I have to pick one person that I admire and envy the most it would have to be Leonardo da Vinci. The breadth of his genius is overwhelming. His lasting contributions to both the arts and sciences and the beauty of his work in both areas has always awed me.

 

Once you retire professionally, what would be the ONE thing you want people to most remember about you?

I’d like to be remembered as someone who made a difference in bringing important new therapies to the market. I had a direct contribution in the development of two products currently on the market. It brings an incredible sense of fulfillment to see people whom I know improve after being treated with these drugs. The hope and expectation that there will be more of these in my future is what keeps me passionate about my work.