Today we’re getting to know Sherry Dunbar, Senior Director of Global Scientific Affairs for Luminex. She’s been with the company since 1999 and has played a role in many of the assays developed internally or by partners in the field. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of South Alabama, and her bachelor’s from the University of Maryland, and now she’s just a few months away from completing her MBA as well.
Q: How did you get into the clinical lab field?
A: I decided in 10th grade that I wanted to study microbiology in college. It was so fascinating! As soon as I took my first microbiology class in college, I knew that I had found my place. I went for my Ph.D., and that’s when I learned there were careers beyond academia. There was a clinical fellowship program to help pursue a career as a lab director, and the idea of being a little closer to patient care appealed to me.
Q: What did you do before joining Luminex?
A: After I had finished my postdoctoral training, I became a clinical lab director at a reference lab in Houston, where we mostly focused on microbiology and molecular biology testing.
Q: What led you to Luminex?
A: I had looked at Luminex as a customer. At the time there were very few commercially available molecular tests, and I was interested in the Luminex technology because it would let me consolidate my test menu at the reference lab. It was through that experience that I met the founder and CEO of our company, and he invited me to join the team. I hoped the job would last at least a year or two — that was 17 years ago! The company has evolved so much I almost feel like I have a new job every couple of years.
Q: What did you do when you first joined the company?
A: I spent 11 years leading our biology R&D group and technical applications, focusing on core technology research. We were the ones figuring out how to build tests on our technologies and then sharing that with the other R&D groups. We also supported assay development efforts from our partners and our end users.
Q: What does it mean to be in charge of global scientific affairs?
A: My group has several primary roles. We provide scientific and medical leadership to the company, especially to people in sales and marketing who might not have that expertise. We also establish and maintain relationships with thought leaders in our industry, serving as a voice of the customer within the company. I lead our external research studies involving collaborations with other institutions and run our advisory boards when needed. Finally, we review all the company literature from the technical side and develop the publications strategy.
Q: If you weren’t at Luminex, where would you be?
A: Probably teaching, because I enjoy that. I’d be a professor.
Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?
A: I’ve always been fascinated by solving the problem of autoimmune diseases — things like multiple sclerosis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. There’s a lot of that in my family, and they’re so debilitating. I happen to think a lot of these diseases probably have an infectious cause and we just haven’t discovered it yet.
Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?
A: Some people know that I was a high school cheerleader, but they probably don’t know that I played clarinet in the symphonic and marching bands starting in elementary school. I had to quit when I started cheerleading, but I kept up playing on my own until I started my postdoctoral fellowship.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?
A: When the weather’s nice and it’s bluebonnet season, my husband and I will pick a ride that goes through someplace scenic to a great food destination. We’ll either drive or take my husband’s motorcycle, with me as the reluctant passenger!
