Susanna Harris, PhD
@susannalharris.bsky.social
Helping scientists communicate. Working in biotech VC, living in San Francisco, reading in every available armchair.
Okay here's a thing I don't understand about the debate around whether to fund academic research:
How can anyone who 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 PhDs onto their teams not see the value of the work that got them there?
How can anyone who 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 PhDs onto their teams not see the value of the work that got them there?
April 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Okay here's a thing I don't understand about the debate around whether to fund academic research:
How can anyone who 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 PhDs onto their teams not see the value of the work that got them there?
How can anyone who 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴 PhDs onto their teams not see the value of the work that got them there?
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Dig deeper in today’s @techcrunch.com exclusive on Phantom Neuro with Founding CEO Connor Glass,= by Ingrid Lunden. techcrunch.com/2025/04/15/p...
Phantom Neuro grabs $19M to help amputees put their phantom limbs to use | TechCrunch
The science fiction trope of humans superpowered by computer and bionic implants is fast becoming a reality, and today, a startup hoping for a role in how
techcrunch.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Dig deeper in today’s @techcrunch.com exclusive on Phantom Neuro with Founding CEO Connor Glass,= by Ingrid Lunden. techcrunch.com/2025/04/15/p...
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
While most BCI tech starts at the brain, Phantom Neuro started at the 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎. With Ottobock leading the $19M Series A, we’re thrilled to double down on Phantom’s radically intuitive approach to mobility.
Read why we (re)invested, by Breakout Ventures’ Dana Watt, PhD: medium.com/breakoutvc/p...
Read why we (re)invested, by Breakout Ventures’ Dana Watt, PhD: medium.com/breakoutvc/p...
Decoding Movement into Milestones
Why Breakout invested in Phantom Neuro, again
medium.com
April 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM
While most BCI tech starts at the brain, Phantom Neuro started at the 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎. With Ottobock leading the $19M Series A, we’re thrilled to double down on Phantom’s radically intuitive approach to mobility.
Read why we (re)invested, by Breakout Ventures’ Dana Watt, PhD: medium.com/breakoutvc/p...
Read why we (re)invested, by Breakout Ventures’ Dana Watt, PhD: medium.com/breakoutvc/p...
Thoughts in order after hearing this news as part of the team that invested early in ZymoChem:
1. Woah, sustainable nylon production would be huge for the planet.
2. What a big win for ZymoChem and biomaterials producers in general.
3. Please please please let this turn into lulu-x-Zymo swag
1. Woah, sustainable nylon production would be huge for the planet.
2. What a big win for ZymoChem and biomaterials producers in general.
3. Please please please let this turn into lulu-x-Zymo swag
lululemon and ZymoChem are partnering to replace petroleum-based nylon—which makes up 31% of material in lululemon products, by weight—through the power of biotechnology!
www.esgtoday.com/lululemon-pa...
www.esgtoday.com/lululemon-pa...
Lululemon Partners with Biotech Company ZymoChem to Scale Use of Sustainable Materials in Products - ESG Today
Athletic apparel company lululemon has entered into a multi-year collaboration agreement with California-based biotechnology firm ZymoChem aimed at expanding the use of sustainable bio-based nylon in ...
www.esgtoday.com
March 26, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Thoughts in order after hearing this news as part of the team that invested early in ZymoChem:
1. Woah, sustainable nylon production would be huge for the planet.
2. What a big win for ZymoChem and biomaterials producers in general.
3. Please please please let this turn into lulu-x-Zymo swag
1. Woah, sustainable nylon production would be huge for the planet.
2. What a big win for ZymoChem and biomaterials producers in general.
3. Please please please let this turn into lulu-x-Zymo swag
For all my awesome sci-commers: the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications is open until March 31st.
Check it out and share with others! www.nationalacademies.org/awards/excel...
Check it out and share with others! www.nationalacademies.org/awards/excel...
www.nationalacademies.org
March 17, 2025 at 5:59 PM
For all my awesome sci-commers: the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications is open until March 31st.
Check it out and share with others! www.nationalacademies.org/awards/excel...
Check it out and share with others! www.nationalacademies.org/awards/excel...
Looking forward to meeting everyone at the AUTM Annual Meeting next week! Send me an email if you're in town so we can grab a coffee or attend some meetings together.
Universities sit at the crossroads of groundbreaking innovation, charged with bridging the gap between research and commercialization. It's a big lift—but they don't have to do it alone!
Attending next week's AUTM Annual Meeting? Say hi to our Director of Platform, @susannalharris.bsky.social!
Attending next week's AUTM Annual Meeting? Say hi to our Director of Platform, @susannalharris.bsky.social!
February 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Looking forward to meeting everyone at the AUTM Annual Meeting next week! Send me an email if you're in town so we can grab a coffee or attend some meetings together.
I don't always include puns in our portfolio news posts, but when I do... they are really, really bad
You've heard about Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) for humans... but what about 𝐁𝐂𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬? (Hang on - we promise it will make scents)
Learn how Canaery's "nose-computer interface" interprets what a dog is smelling in real time.
www.wired.com/story/nose-c... @wired.com @emilymullin.bsky.social
Learn how Canaery's "nose-computer interface" interprets what a dog is smelling in real time.
www.wired.com/story/nose-c... @wired.com @emilymullin.bsky.social
A Nose-Computer Interface Could Turn Dogs Into Super Detectors
Startup Canaery is partnering with a US Department of Energy lab to develop neural implants for rats and dogs that are capable of decoding what they smell.
www.wired.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I don't always include puns in our portfolio news posts, but when I do... they are really, really bad
Nearly 5 years out of my PhD, I still learn new science... I still work with researchers... I still speak at conferences... I still explore what I find most exciting... just without the .edu address.
Full post over on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/susann...
Full post over on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/susann...
Susanna Harris, PhD on LinkedIn: #jpm2025 | 21 comments
One of my biggest fears about leaving academia was the thought of walking away from working with my favorite type of people: scientists. I am delighted to now… | 21 comments on LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com
January 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Nearly 5 years out of my PhD, I still learn new science... I still work with researchers... I still speak at conferences... I still explore what I find most exciting... just without the .edu address.
Full post over on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/susann...
Full post over on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/posts/susann...
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Episode #2 of my show Tears In Rain is live!!! I interviewed @susannalharris.bsky.social and she gave us a peek into what it took for her to become the scientist she is today. Highly recommended viewing for PhD students pushing themselves to grow as researchers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R6M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R6M...
Tears In Rain Ep2: Susanna Harris
YouTube video by Sebastian Cocioba
www.youtube.com
January 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Episode #2 of my show Tears In Rain is live!!! I interviewed @susannalharris.bsky.social and she gave us a peek into what it took for her to become the scientist she is today. Highly recommended viewing for PhD students pushing themselves to grow as researchers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R6M...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R6M...
Fun research fact of the day: Cornell invented the chicken nugget.
December 12, 2024 at 5:46 PM
Fun research fact of the day: Cornell invented the chicken nugget.
One of the best parts of venture community+platform work is getting to share exciting news every. damn. day.
My dream is to do an interview series just on the science of our portfolio's tech. Like, Cytovale uses high-speed cameras + immunology to detect sepsis 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 instead of hours. What?!?
My dream is to do an interview series just on the science of our portfolio's tech. Like, Cytovale uses high-speed cameras + immunology to detect sepsis 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 instead of hours. What?!?
The best "problem" a VC media manager can have is when the portfolio companies have too much good news.
Cheers to Cytovale for a very big week: from speaking at Forbes' Healthcare Summit, to expanding into yet another hospital, to being named in Inc. Magazine's Best in Business.
Links below!
Cheers to Cytovale for a very big week: from speaking at Forbes' Healthcare Summit, to expanding into yet another hospital, to being named in Inc. Magazine's Best in Business.
Links below!
December 5, 2024 at 4:36 PM
One of the best parts of venture community+platform work is getting to share exciting news every. damn. day.
My dream is to do an interview series just on the science of our portfolio's tech. Like, Cytovale uses high-speed cameras + immunology to detect sepsis 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 instead of hours. What?!?
My dream is to do an interview series just on the science of our portfolio's tech. Like, Cytovale uses high-speed cameras + immunology to detect sepsis 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 instead of hours. What?!?
My thoughts in order:
1. Science is so pretty
2. Wow this is a big deal for research
3. Preeeeetttyyyyy
1. Science is so pretty
2. Wow this is a big deal for research
3. Preeeeetttyyyyy
🧪 E11 Bio is excited to share a major step towards brain mapping at 100x lower cost, making whole-brain connectomics at human & mouse scale feasible (🧠→🔬→💻). Critical for curing brain disorders, building human-like AI systems, and even simulating human brains.
Read more: e11.bio/news/roadmap
Read more: e11.bio/news/roadmap
December 3, 2024 at 6:28 PM
My thoughts in order:
1. Science is so pretty
2. Wow this is a big deal for research
3. Preeeeetttyyyyy
1. Science is so pretty
2. Wow this is a big deal for research
3. Preeeeetttyyyyy
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
So much this 👇
I've gotten many opportunties because of social media. I've also made my positions so clear that I've ruled out jobs but I see that as a positive.
My COVID work had collaborators I'd found on the bad place and they were absolutely brilliant (& just lovely folk).
I've gotten many opportunties because of social media. I've also made my positions so clear that I've ruled out jobs but I see that as a positive.
My COVID work had collaborators I'd found on the bad place and they were absolutely brilliant (& just lovely folk).
Social media is an amazing place to find co-creators, new tools, and even the inspiration to keep going. We learn and get energy from each other, which is absolutely crucial to doing the hard work on the ground: creating trust and opening minds.
November 27, 2024 at 11:52 PM
So much this 👇
I've gotten many opportunties because of social media. I've also made my positions so clear that I've ruled out jobs but I see that as a positive.
My COVID work had collaborators I'd found on the bad place and they were absolutely brilliant (& just lovely folk).
I've gotten many opportunties because of social media. I've also made my positions so clear that I've ruled out jobs but I see that as a positive.
My COVID work had collaborators I'd found on the bad place and they were absolutely brilliant (& just lovely folk).
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Spending a month on Bluesky has created a whole new model of a fight we need to be having right now. Not liberal vs. conservative or whatever, but respect vs manipulation.
I am tired of being manipulated everywhere I go. That’s why I like it here, I feel like I’m in charge for once.
I am tired of being manipulated everywhere I go. That’s why I like it here, I feel like I’m in charge for once.
November 27, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Spending a month on Bluesky has created a whole new model of a fight we need to be having right now. Not liberal vs. conservative or whatever, but respect vs manipulation.
I am tired of being manipulated everywhere I go. That’s why I like it here, I feel like I’m in charge for once.
I am tired of being manipulated everywhere I go. That’s why I like it here, I feel like I’m in charge for once.
Feeling sunnier about the future of scicomm after a catch-up with @dr-brein.bsky.social. It's hard to stay motivated seeing all the pushback against real research. But the fear of science is nothing new, and getting access to our audience is half the battle. We have the tools to make a change.
November 27, 2024 at 6:24 PM
Feeling sunnier about the future of scicomm after a catch-up with @dr-brein.bsky.social. It's hard to stay motivated seeing all the pushback against real research. But the fear of science is nothing new, and getting access to our audience is half the battle. We have the tools to make a change.
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
I was surprised a Biotech Investor starter pack wasn’t available, so I made one. Please help grow this community.
go.bsky.app/GV6usnz
go.bsky.app/GV6usnz
November 24, 2024 at 1:50 PM
I was surprised a Biotech Investor starter pack wasn’t available, so I made one. Please help grow this community.
go.bsky.app/GV6usnz
go.bsky.app/GV6usnz
After attending Magnify in 2022 and 2023 as a community member, I can still hardly believe that I got to help put on this year's event as part of the Breakout Ventures team <3
In this season of gratitude, we are most thankful for... 𝐲𝐨𝐮! We're inspired by this community of founders, investors and co-conspirators who are building a future powered by science.
Thank you to everyone who made this year's Magnify such a success. Check out the photos⬇️
medium.com/breakoutvc/a...
Thank you to everyone who made this year's Magnify such a success. Check out the photos⬇️
medium.com/breakoutvc/a...
Celebrating Conversation and Community
A recap of Breakout Ventures’ Magnify 2024
medium.com
November 27, 2024 at 5:50 PM
After attending Magnify in 2022 and 2023 as a community member, I can still hardly believe that I got to help put on this year's event as part of the Breakout Ventures team <3
Are we still doing the "share your nerdy tattoos" like in the olden times? Cuz I miss seeing those and have a few new ones to share myself...
November 22, 2024 at 9:46 PM
Are we still doing the "share your nerdy tattoos" like in the olden times? Cuz I miss seeing those and have a few new ones to share myself...
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Congrats to Danny Carbonero, our Breakout Fellow at BU, on publishing his ML-driven neuroscience dissertation work in Nature Scientific Reports. With senior author @johnawhitephd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 20, 2024 at 4:32 PM
Congrats to Danny Carbonero, our Breakout Fellow at BU, on publishing his ML-driven neuroscience dissertation work in Nature Scientific Reports. With senior author @johnawhitephd.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Couldn’t agree more! I met a ton of awesome people in grad school that have gone on to do a lot of really cool things. #chemsky
5 years since getting my PhD, I've realized one of the best grad school perks is watching your friends become leaders. The guy you met in orientation? He's a professor. Your writing buddy? Running her own business. The postdocs who paved the way? Doing big things in industry and government. Amazing.
November 18, 2024 at 7:55 PM
Couldn’t agree more! I met a ton of awesome people in grad school that have gone on to do a lot of really cool things. #chemsky
5 years since getting my PhD, I've realized one of the best grad school perks is watching your friends become leaders. The guy you met in orientation? He's a professor. Your writing buddy? Running her own business. The postdocs who paved the way? Doing big things in industry and government. Amazing.
November 18, 2024 at 5:22 PM
5 years since getting my PhD, I've realized one of the best grad school perks is watching your friends become leaders. The guy you met in orientation? He's a professor. Your writing buddy? Running her own business. The postdocs who paved the way? Doing big things in industry and government. Amazing.
Reposted by Susanna Harris, PhD
Could combining computation and genetic medicine be the key to treating brain and mental health disorders?
"Neuro is a very data-rich, insight-poor field... and those fields tend to really benefit from things like AI." ~Dana Watt, PhD, Breakout Investor
Podcast: www.businesstrip.fm/podcast/epis...
"Neuro is a very data-rich, insight-poor field... and those fields tend to really benefit from things like AI." ~Dana Watt, PhD, Breakout Investor
Podcast: www.businesstrip.fm/podcast/epis...
Future of Mental Health & Wellness Podcast | Business Trip
Business Trip is a podcast exploring the future of mental health and wellness. We tell the story of frontier tech from psychedelics to neurotech to microbial psychiatry to digital therapeutics and mor...
www.businesstrip.fm
November 18, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Could combining computation and genetic medicine be the key to treating brain and mental health disorders?
"Neuro is a very data-rich, insight-poor field... and those fields tend to really benefit from things like AI." ~Dana Watt, PhD, Breakout Investor
Podcast: www.businesstrip.fm/podcast/epis...
"Neuro is a very data-rich, insight-poor field... and those fields tend to really benefit from things like AI." ~Dana Watt, PhD, Breakout Investor
Podcast: www.businesstrip.fm/podcast/epis...
It looks like a lot of scientists are making the switch to Bluesky! Very exciting for #scicomm 🔬
A few questions for y'all:
1. Who should I be following here?
2. What tags are ✨you✨ using or watching to find and share cool science?
A few questions for y'all:
1. Who should I be following here?
2. What tags are ✨you✨ using or watching to find and share cool science?
October 30, 2023 at 3:29 PM
It looks like a lot of scientists are making the switch to Bluesky! Very exciting for #scicomm 🔬
A few questions for y'all:
1. Who should I be following here?
2. What tags are ✨you✨ using or watching to find and share cool science?
A few questions for y'all:
1. Who should I be following here?
2. What tags are ✨you✨ using or watching to find and share cool science?