Harald Hess: Physicist looks to market high-powered microscope

The 50-year-old scientist turned his California condo into a makeshift physics lab and, along with collaborator Eric Betzig, invented a high-powered microscope that will change the way researchers study cells.

The microscope, which essentially allows scientists to isolate each molecule on a slide and study it individually, landed Hess and Betzig jobs at Janelia Farm Research Campus in Loudoun County, where they will continue refining their microscope.

The $500 million research campus, which is set to open next month, was built to address fundamental biological questions with long-term research. But with discoveries such as Hess’ microscope already coming out of Janelia, the research may be commercialized sooner than anticipated.

“The intent would be to make [the microscope] available to collaborators at Janelia and then eventually commercially available to the broader research community,” Hess said. “A big part of what makes a scientific impact is if you can get it out to a large group of people. … Too often you see scientists stay only on the academic side. It’s important to bridge from the academic side to the commercial side.”

Janelia’s policy, which is similar to that of academic institutions, gives scientists 50 percent of the profits made from commercializing research done at Janelia.

Hess has a background in bridging the gap between research and commercialization.He started his career at AT&T’s Bell Labs, which was the premier research facility for cutting-edge technologies in its heyday. Following his stint there, he went to work for KLA-Tencor, a multibillion dollar company that develops software systems for semiconductor manufacturers. When the company relocated, Hess decided to stay put. Betzig was in a similar situation and the two linked up to work on the microscope.

Hess said it will likely be several years before the microscope makes it to market, but his time spent without a job sped up the process.

“It’s a great thing to be unemployed,” he said. “Because once we came up with the idea we were able to execute much faster than we could in academia.”

Harald Hess

BUSINESS

» Current job: Physics consultant at NuQuest Research, soon to be director of Applied Physics and Instrumentation Group at Janelia Farm

» Last job: Director, tech programming for KLA-Tencor

» Number of e-mails a day: 20

» Essential Web site: Google

» Best perk: Unmanaged time to think

» Gadgets: Dremel moto tool

» Education/credentials: Ph.D. in physics, Princeton

» Last conference: Live Cell Imaging Conference

» First job: Electron microscope repair boy

» Original aspiration: Discover secret of universe

» Compensation: $125 to $200 hourly consulting fee

PERSONAL

» Hometown: Pana, Ill.

» Sports/hobbies: Tennis, jogging, hiking

» Transportation: Audi A4

» Favorite restaurant: Mary Chung’s in Cambridge

» Computer: hp zt3000

» Favorite clothier: Levi’s

» Vacation spot: Any mountaintop

» Quote: Never chew another person’s cud

[email protected]