Written by Taylor Campbell
12. 12. 25
Meet the Founder of Nerve Co. & Coffee Table Science
Yes, it’s true. They will let just anyone start a company.
And that’s really how we got here today—I had an idea, and I thought if anyone can do it, why can’t I? And so with Elle Wood’s famous line from Legally Blonde playing through my head (“What? Like it’s hard?”), Nerve Communications was born.
THE ABOUT ME
NO ONE ASKED FOR
I have a PhD in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience from the University of Delaware, which I know sounds impressive, but I think I see it a little differently. I simply made the (delusional) decision—before my prefrontal cortex was totally online—to spend my 20s working overtime for basically no money. My magic 8-ball cannot confirm if I made the right choice (I have to “ask again later”). Either way, I am excited to play an important role in science innovation and leadership. Plus, now I have a fully formed frontal lobe, a PhD, and a business license—so I’m literally unstoppable.
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I enjoy using art and design techniques to make science engaging. I would call myself an amateur graphic designer, except I was Yearbook Editor in high school, so you might say I’ve actually had extensive, on-the-job training. The seed for my ‘art in science passion’ was officially planted when I was a young graduate student sitting at a conference, excited to learn from experts in the field. As the speakers presented basic bullet point slide after bullet point slide in a voice eerily similar to the teacher from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, I found myself locked in. The only problem was I was locked in on fighting off a nap. We’ll never know how much I could have learned that day if I hadn’t been battling the hibernation spell being cast upon me.
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I wanted to make a difference by doing something different.
THE STORY
CONTINUES
If you watched The Office, then you know there’s a short storyline where Michael Scott starts a competing paper company. Michael’s company proves to be an adversary for his old company, Dunder Mifflin, (even though his methods weren’t sustainable, but we won’t pull at that thread), and he ends up entering into negotiations to have his company and employees absorbed back into Dunder Mifflin. In these negotiations, management frustratedly tells Michael, “There’s no way your company is worth that much”, to which Michael replies, “Our company is worth nothing. That’s the difference between you and I. Business isn’t about money to me, David. If tomorrow my company goes under, I will just start another paper company, and then another and another and another. I have no shortage of company names”.
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And that really summarizes how I got here. I have passion. I have commitment. I have nerve. I know I have something that can be great—maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday.
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Welcome to the journey to someday—please buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Before I leave you to conquer the world, here are some fun (that's debatable) facts about me:
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#1. I am powered by Haribo sour gummy bears and milk duds— the true powerhouses of the cell.
#2. My passions lie in promoting women in science and making scientific research accessible to everyone.
#3. Like most adults in the 21st Century, I can’t be trusted until I’ve consumed my daily caffeine ration. Consequently, I do not trust people who function without caffeine.
#4. I have yet to successfully use my Revlon heated round brush (props to hair stylists— you’re the real heroes).
#5. My worst trait is watching one documentary and subsequently feeling like an expert on the topic. I know, I know, but the first step is admitting you have a problem (I’m at step 0; I do not see a problem here).
Don’t trust me; I’m just a Dr. with no shortage of company names (though Nerve Co. is my favorite).
Thanks for visiting! — Taylor Campbell