Michael Fischbach

Michael is simultaneously the scientist’s scientist and a deeply entrepreneurial builder. He lives in Pasteur’s quadrant.

In his academic life, Michael is the Liu (Liao) Family Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University, an Institute Scholar of Stanford ChEM-H, and the director of the Stanford Microbiome Therapies Initiative. His lab is responsible for multiple foundational scientific and technological advances in microbiome research. His work is highly multidisciplinary, spanning biochemistry, genetics, bacteriology, and computer science. Michael has over 66,000 citations and is widely recognized as a leading thinker about the meta-practice of science and engineering. He teaches the course, “Problem choice and decision trees in science and engineering,” to both graduate students and fellow faculty members at Stanford.

Michael has also made a big impact in biotech. He is a co-founder of Revolution Medicines ($RVMD), Kelonia, a co-founder and director of Azalea, a member of the scientific advisory boards of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Stand Up to Cancer, and TCG Labs/Soleil Labs, and an innovation partner at The Column Group. In these roles, Michael has helped guide some of the highest-performing organizations in the industry.

Michael has a truly unique combination of big picture thinking and a rigorous grasp of the smallest details. He frequently zooms out to consider the impact of his work and size up new opportunities, before zooming in and attacking problems with full intensity. Few scientists make as many original—and distinct—contributions in their career as Michael. He will be an invaluable thought partner to our team and founders. (And we are grateful he is patient enough to advise Elliot twice, having been his graduate advisor.)