The Viewbook
College of Science and Mathematics
Biochemistry
Poncho Meisenheimer
What are you doing now?Director of Chemistry Research for Promega Corporation:
Our chemists create new fluorescent and bioluminescent chemicals which detect cellular events important to drug
discovery researchers.
How did your program of study at Cal Poly prepare you for your current role?
Cal Poly delivered a strong fundamental knowledge of organic chemistry. The learn-by-doing motto gave me a
head start in graduate school.
What did you do when you first graduated from Poly?
After Cal Poly and newly married to a beautiful driven woman that I met during my first chemistry course at
Cal Poly, I began a Ph.D. program in Oragnic Chemistry at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
How long were you at Poly?4 years ('88-'92)
Did you have any co-ops or internships while at Poly?
During my junior summer I interned in the research automation laboratory at Northrop Grumman. Although this internship
wasn't in the field of chemistry, the team of engineers exposed me to a powerful corporate research environment.
If you could describe your co-op/internship experience, what was the biggest thing that made
an impression on you?
I learned that expensive research equipment is no substitute for clever people; still,
researchers always want cutting edge tools.
What are your three strongest memories of Cal Poly?
1) Close relationships with the faculty. The faculty always had time for individual students. Three of the faculty
attended my wedding even though it was in LA.
2) Laboratory courses that weren't defined by frugality, safety, or
process – just good old fashion learn by doing.
3) A university focused on undergraduates.
When you think of Cal Poly you immediately think of this...?
Small class size and faculty teach the labs!!!
What brought you to Cal Poly?
Small class sizes, happy faculty, inexpensive education… and they let me in
When you are not working, what do you find yourself usually doing?
Outside of work I spend my time surfing, running, and climbing with my beautiful wife and two boys.
