Leadership
Richard Terry
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Board Member
Founder
Prior to founding Harton, Richard was the CEO, CTO, and founder of ReadCoor, the leading developer of a true spatial biology platform. Before ReadCoor, he was the Lead Senior Staff Scientist at Harvard University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. At the Wyss, he supported advancements in reading, writing, and editing nucleic acid, better known as nucleic acid sequencing, gene synthesis, and gene editing.
Richard was one of the Institute’s first hires and joined the founding team before the research center opened its doors. He built and transformed the Synthetic Biology Platform from its earliest form into the world-renowned Translational Synthetic Biology group that it is today. A sample of the tools developed by the Synthetic Biology group under his charge includes Ultra-Long DNAs, Next-Gen Sequencing, Nanopore Sequencing, Multiplexed Automated Genome Engineering (MAGE), Programmable DNA Nanotherapeutic Robotic Device, CRISPR, TALEN, Zinc Finger, CADnano, SeqTag, Data Encoding and Enzymatic Synthesis of DNA. Before joining the Wyss, Richard resided in the Church Lab at Harvard Medical School. During his time in the lab, he designed, developed, and produced a cost-effective, high throughput, open-source DNA sequencer: The Polonator. Prior to his time at the Church Lab, Richard developed implantable nerve stimulation devices to treat vestibular disorders at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He also held the position of Senior Project Manager for an optical subsystem of the Large Hadron Colliders (LHC) at The Center of European Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. While completing his graduate degree and following its completion, he conducted urology research for diagnostic devices at Boston Medical Center. He has served as a consultant for a diverse selection of companies ranging from medical device startups to large manufacturing firms (Johnson & Johnson, NeuroKinetics, Intelligent Bio Systems, Good Start Genetics, ABVitro, Merck, Fero Solutions, Halcyon Molecular, Gen9, and Helicos Biosciences). Additionally, he founded a DNA sequencing chemistry company and an engineering consulting firm.
Richard is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the 2020 Goldman Sachs 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs; ReadCoor NEVC startup of the year 2016 (nominated); and ReadCoor NEVC deal of the year 2020 (nominated).
He received his Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Boston University and has numerous patents and publications spanning multiple disciplines.