From PhD to Biotech CEO
Caitlyn Miller, the CEO and Co-Founder of TwoStep Therapeutics, shares how she went from a PhD in Bioengineering to leading a cancer therapeutics startup.
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👔 The Job 👔
Caitlyn Miller is the CEO and Co-Founder of TwoStep Therapeutics in San Carlos, California, a startup developing tumor-targeted therapies for cancer treatment. Her days are fast-paced and ever-changing — a true reflection of startup life.
From scientific strategy and company building to pitching investors and forging partnerships, Caitlyn wears many hats. But at the core of it all is her mission: to bring a treatment she deeply believes in to patients.
Best parts of the job:
Mission-driven work: “I get to work on a treatment that I truly believe in — and seeing it through is incredibly rewarding.”
Great people: Caitlyn works with amazing teammates and meets inspiring new people every day.
Startup energy: Every week brings something new, which keeps things exciting.
🛣️ The Path 🛣️
Caitlyn’s journey to entrepreneurship began in her PhD lab, where she co-developed the therapy that TwoStep is now advancing. With support from her advisors, she spun the company out of Stanford and stepped into the startup world.
Key steps in her career journey:
PhD Graduate ➡️ Postdoc (same labs) ➡️ Entrepreneur in Residence ➡️ CEO & Co-Founder of TwoStep Therapeutics
🧠 The Decision 🧠
Caitlyn considered academia, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit. She wanted to translate her research into the clinic — and doing that required funding and business savvy.
She also found pitching and having conversations with investors much more exciting and fun than writing grants.
It wasn’t an obvious path when she started her PhD, but by the end, the decision to leave academia came easily.
💡 The Advice 💡
Ask for help: Reach out to people in careers that interest you. Attend networking events, happy hours — you never know who you’ll meet.
Use LinkedIn: After you meet someone, connect with them. It helps them remember you — and vice versa. That connection could lead to your next job… or next hire.
Vet employers too: When you’re interviewing, remember you’re interviewing them too. If someone is rude or inappropriate during the interview process, don’t ignore it.
🔑 The Takeaway 🔑
Caitlyn’s story shows how a PhD can be a launchpad for something bold and meaningful. By staying connected to what excited her — translating research into real impact — she found a path that matched her strengths, values, and ambitions.
Academia isn’t the only place to do science. Sometimes, building your own company is the best way to carry your discoveries forward.