FAV FOOD: Hot Asian Soup. FAV COUNTRY: Taiwan. CELEB CRUSH: Rina Sawayama. PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I’m adopted. FAV QUOTE: “You choose what matters.”
Hannah Wastyk
Pioneering research & compassionate leadership
A MOMENT OF CLARITY. Hannah Wastyk’s decision to dedicate her life to scientific research crystallized when she attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in 2013. “That was really it for me,” she recalls. “I decided that research and sharing that excitement with other people is what I love to do and really what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” This defining moment set her on a path of discovery and innovation, ultimately leading to the co-founding of Interface Bio, an AI-enabled, metabolomics-based drug discovery engine focused on treating inflammatory diseases.
Hannah’s upbringing in a predominantly white area, combined with her identity as an adopted Asian American and a queer individual, profoundly shaped her perspective. “I’ve been the minority pretty much my entire life,” she says. “Being part of these communities has given me the space and the time to think about what each person at Interface Bio needs to thrive.”
Growing up as a first-generation college student with supportive but non-scientific parents, Hannah’s journey into the sciences began in high school. Volunteering at Penn State Medical Hospital, she initially performed menial tasks but soon worked her way into a research lab. This early exposure to research culminated in her winning a regional science fair, competing internationally, and ultimately attending the Nobel Prizes.
After high school, Hannah attended the University of Delaware, majoring in biochemistry. She then pursued a Ph.D. at Stanford, focusing on the intersection of AI and biology. During her doctoral studies, she explored how diets affect the microbiome and, consequently, the immune system. This research laid the groundwork for Interface Bio. “The startup is a spin-off of my Ph.D. as well as my co-founder Will Treuren’s Ph.D.,” she explains. “We decided to start the company to make a real impact by taking our research beyond the lab.”
A VISIONARY PATH FORWARD. Interface Bio leverages AI and metabolomics to discover novel natural products made by commensal microbes. These microbes have co-evolved with humans for millions of years, producing molecules that can effectively and safely impact the immune system. “It’s a huge treasure trove of safe and effective therapeutics,” Hannah says. The company’s mission is to identify tomorrow’s blockbuster drugs for inflammatory and cancer-related diseases.
Hannah’s LGBTQIA+ identity has played a significant role in her journey. This empathy drives her focus on building a supportive and inclusive culture at Interface Bio. She takes pride in the diversity of her team, which includes several non-American employees on visas. “People make choices on what they want to prioritize in their company,” she says. “For me, bringing in the best people is crucial for creating a diverse work environment.”
Her advice to aspiring LGBTQIA+ founders is to “prepare to be the only one in the room. Find what your true goal is beyond money—the thing that will keep you going during tough times. It’s important to have a North Star, something that grounds you.” Reflecting on her journey, Hannah also emphasizes the importance of asking for help. “The people who have a great career are able to ask for help,” she says, recalling advice from a mentor. This lesson has been pivotal in her success, allowing her to build an innovative company that thrives on collaboration and support.
With Interface Bio, Hannah not only hopes to create life-changing drugs that improve human health but also build a company where people love to work. “I want to create this innovation ecosystem where people are fulfilling their potential even higher than they thought possible.”
