Molecules into Medicine
Clinton McFeely, Ph.D.
Clinton McFeely, Ph.D.
Clinton McFeely, Ph.D., liked VCU so much he came back three times. The triple-Ram graduate — who collected two bachelor’s degrees and a Ph.D. from the university — now spends his days at Eli Lilly and Company’s San Diego labs hunting for molecules that might one day become medicine. It’s exacting, high-stakes work, but McFeely (B.S. ’ 14, B.S. ’ 17, Ph.D. ’ 22) describes it the way most people describe a Saturday morning hobby: as puzzle-solving. For someone wired for curiosity and energized by the abstract, it turns out early drug discovery is a pretty good fit.
What was it about physics and chemistry that excited you as a student?
I was definitely drawn to the abstract nature of physics. Modern physics stands out as one of my favorite courses. Recreating the Millikan Oil Drop experiment in a physics lab was mind-bending; Robert Millikan, Ph.D., won a Nobel prize for those insights and demonstrations, and I got to replicate that work in a lab. I also became quite good at math, and it got to the point where solving physics equations felt like building a puzzle. I just had fun in these classes.
Same story with chemistry. I was exposed to big ideas and experiments performed by famous scientists who built the foundation of modern science. Chemistry in particular brought me more and more into the lab, which is a good thing because I’ve built a career for myself as a lab scientist.
Reflecting on your time at VCU, how did the curriculum prepare you for your career?
It’s the skills I developed through my education that continue to propel my career in an exciting direction. The classroom learnings are important, but the math and lab skills I developed are what truly enables my career. Being a T.A. in graduate school also made a big impact in my professional skill set, and I think I do a good job of communicating complex ideas and helping younger scientists develop their skill set and knowledge.
What does your day-to-day look like at Eli Lilly and Company?
Currently, I’m a research scientist working in early drug discovery, meaning my job is to discover molecules that can be developed into medicine. I’m about three years into my industry career, and at this point I’m seen as a subject matter expert on the platform I work on, so I’m finding myself in more meetings and giving more presentations. Day-to-day, I’m running my own experiments, advising and supporting the junior scientists who work on my team, and working cross-functionally with other parts of the organization to ensure that our team gets the support we need to function at a high level and that our efforts are aligned with the company’s goals.
What’s your why?
I’m not sure I fully know yet. I became very aware of the fragility of human health when I was nine years old, as my little sister was diagnosed with leukemia as an infant. She received her treatment at Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, which is where I worked during grad school. I can’t say it was exactly the plan to end up there, but at the same time I think it’s beautiful that I did. Working in drug discovery now, it would certainly be the pinnacle of my career if a molecule I discovered makes it to the market as an FDA-approved medicine. That’s what I’ll keep working toward.