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Education
2018–2024
Ph.D. Neuroscience
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA
Dissertation: A sensorimotor transformation for image-stabilizing eye movements and its implications for disease. Advisor: Dr. Felice Dunn.
2014–2018
B.S. Neuroscience, Philosophy, magna cum laude
Duke University, Durham, NC
Thesis: Development of an optical tool for studying cerebellar dependent sensorimotor associations. Advisor: Dr. Court Hull.
Professional Positions
2025–present
Co-Founder & CTO — Certain Technologies, Inc.
Building proprietary diagnostic software to augment neurodevelopmental diagnoses.
2025–present
Computational Neuroscientist — Eon Systems, PBC
Developed the first multi-behavior brain emulation of an animal using embodied AI. Built physics-constrained, connectome-based brain models that serve as the company's core IP.
2024–2025
Staff Scientist — Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF
Invented a noninvasive diagnostic tool for early detection of brain and eye diseases.
2018–2024
PhD Candidate — Neuroscience Graduate Program, UCSF
Dissertation: A sensorimotor transformation for image-stabilizing eye movements and its implications for disease. Advisor: Dr. Felice Dunn.
2015–2018
Undergraduate Researcher — Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine
Thesis: Development of an optical tool for studying cerebellar dependent sensorimotor associations. Advisor: Dr. Court Hull.
2016
R&D Intern — Neuroscience Department, Genentech Inc.
Characterized safety liabilities associated with Alzheimer's therapeutics using single-cell assays. Advisor: Dr. Jasvinder Atwal.
2012–present
Co-Founder and Private Tutor — San Francisco Tutors
Founded a freelance tutoring company. Mentored 20+ students.
Things I Have Built
Jelly Psych
AI-native web app for psychological diagnosis.
Agents, Generative AI, Next.js, React, Flask, LLMs, OAuth, AWS, MongoDB
Users see 60% more patients, clinics grow revenue by >$150k/clinician.
Embodied Brain Emulation
Uploaded digital copies of brains into virtual bodies.
Embodied AI, PyTorch, MuJoCo, Reinforcement Learning, Connectomics
First ever multi-behavior brain emulation.
OKR DiagnosticsComing Soon
End-to-end diagnostic for neurodegenerative disease.
VR, Adaptive Optics, Eye Tracking
Diagnoses years faster than existing standard of care.
Bassoon
No-code psychophysics experiments.
PsychoPy, Eye Tracking
Used by labs around the world.
Quale
Visual prosthetic (see with ears).
OpenCV, Computer Vision
Visually-guided behavior in unsighted subjects; Blackstone Grand Prize.
Electrophysiology Pipeline
Analysis pipeline for neuroscience data.
Timeseries analysis
Calibrate Light
Photoisomerization rates for vision science.
Matlab, optics, signal detection
Fellowships & Awards
2024–2026
NSF Innovation Corps Grant, Entrepreneurial Lead
Award #2437074
2024
David and Joyce Copenhagen Prize for Best Research in Vision Science
UCSF Department of Ophthalmology
2022
Knights Templar Eye Foundation Travel Grant for ARVO
2021–2024
Ruth L. Kirschstein F31 Fellowship (NIH/NEI)
Award #F31 EY-033225
2021–2024
Kavli Institute for Neuroscience Graduate Student Fellowship
2021
Blackstone Charitable Foundation LaunchPad Ideas Competition, National Grand Prize Winner
Visual prosthetic invention
2020–2023
Moritz-Heyman Discovery Fellowship
UCSF
2020
NSF GRFP Honorable Mention
2017
Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Summer Neuroscience Program Fellowship
Publications
- Harris, S.C., Balraj, A.K., John, J., Wong, J., Wang, Y., Reyes, E.M., Rabiee, R., Roorda, A., Duncan, J., & Dunn, F.A. Identification of a neural pathway with heightened sensitivity to mild neurodegeneration in mice and humans.In Preparation
- Kiraly, J.K., Balraj, A., Leary, P., You, Z., Harris, S.C., Hyer, J.D., ... & Kolodkin, A.L. (2025). Slit2/Robo1 signaling constrains image stabilization responses. Current Biology.
- Lee, J.Y., Kastner, D.B., Harris, S.C., Santina, L.D., John, J.V., Stone, N.S., & Dunn, F.A. (2025). Partial input loss differentially modifies neural pathways. bioRxiv.
- Creed, R.B., Harris, S.C., Sridhar, S., du Lac, S., Zee, D.S., Dunn, F.A., ... & Nelson, A.B. (2024). Tau P301S Transgenic Mice Develop Gait and Eye Movement Impairments. bioRxiv.
- Kiraly, J.K., Harris, S.C., Al-Khindi, T., Dunn, F.A., & Kolodkin, A.L. (2024). PyOKR: A Semi-Automated Method for Quantifying Optokinetic Reflex Tracking Ability. JoVE.
- Harris, S.C., & Dunn, F.A. (2023). Asymmetric retinal direction tuning predicts optokinetic eye movements across stimulus conditions. eLife, 12:e81780.
- Della Santina, L., Alfred, K.Y., Harris, S.C., et al. (2021). Disassembly and rewiring of a mature converging excitatory circuit following injury. Cell Reports, 36(5), 109463.
- Newpher, T.M., Harris, S., Pringle, J., Hamilton, C., & Soderling, S. (2018). Regulation of spine structural plasticity by Arc/Arg3.1. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 77, 25-32.
Patents
- Harris, S.C., Dunn, F.A., John, J.V., Methods for Assessing Optokinetic Reflex and Systems for Same. UCSF-822PRV, filed October 11, 2025.
Invited Talks
- Harris S.C., et al. (2024) Early Signs of Retinal Degeneration. Grand Rounds, UCSF Department of Ophthalmology.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2024) Direction selectivity and central computation. Copenhagen Award talk, UCSF.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) A neurobiological mechanism for image stabilization. Michael Page Research Symposium, UCSF.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) Retinal direction tuning predicts gaze stabilizing eye movements. UCSF Neuroscience Retreat, Monterey.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) Asymmetries in the vertical optokinetic reflex. ARVO Annual Meeting, Denver.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) Retinal direction tuning. Roy Steinberg Lecture, UCSF.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) A brainstem model for visual motion processing. UCSF Neuroscience.
- Harris S.C., Zahler S., & Feinberg E. (2019) Anatomic constraints on orienting circuitry in the superior colliculus. UCSF.
Poster Presentations
- Harris S.C., et al. (2025) Towards embodied brain emulations. SfN, San Diego.
- Harris S.C., et al. (2025) Detection of retinal degeneration by measuring reflexive eye movements. ARVO, Salt Lake City.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2022) Retinal direction tuning predicts gaze stabilizing eye movements. SfN, San Diego.
- Harris S.C., & Dunn F.A. (2021) Disproportionate excitation. UCSF Retreat.
- Harris S.C., & Hull C. (2018) Cerebellar-dependent sensorimotor associations. Duke.
- Harris S.C., Wetzel-Smith M.K., & Atwal J.K. (2016) Blood-brain barrier bispecific antibodies. Genentech.
Skills
ScientificComputational neuroscience, connectome models, psychophysics, ophthalmology
QuantitativeMachine learning, LLMs, simulation, computer vision, data science
ProgrammingPython, MATLAB, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, full stack development, agentic workflows
ProductMarket discovery, needs-finding, strategic planning
Soft SkillsFundraising, scientific and technical writing, team leadership, public speaking
Teaching
2020–2024
TA, Intro to Computer Programming, UCSF
2020
TA, Organ Systems and Human Pathophysiology, UCSF
2020
Guest Instructor, Lowell High School Science Club
2012–present
Freelance Private Tutor
Coursework
Neurosciences (30+ courses), statistical methods and modeling, computational methods, deep learning, information theory, linear algebra, organic chemistry, electricity and magnetism, computer science, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, formal logic