The Humans of the Wyss (HOW) series features members of the Wyss community discussing their work, the influences that shape them as professionals, and their collaborations at the Wyss Institute and beyond.
Imagine grabbing a power bar that contains proteins produced by cyanobacteria or a device that allows you to produce all of your own food with just electricity. This future, where food production is less dependent on photosynthesis and more sustainable, is what Wyss Postdoctoral Fellow Elizabeth Hann is working towards. To realize her vision, she is using biology and genetic tools to develop microbes that produce commodities more sustainably. Learn more about Elizabeth and her work in this month’s Humans of the Wyss.
What are you working on?
I’m working on engineering microbes as a solution to climate problems. Specifically, I’m interested in using biology and genetic tools to develop microbes that produce commodities that we use every day, like food, fuel, and chemicals, more sustainably and without using sugar. Our solutions would make their production independent of our current agricultural system and supply chains.
Through our Validation Project, called CyanoPro, we are developing a sustainable biomanufacturing platform that uses fast-growing, photosynthetic cyanobacteria to secrete various recombinant proteins. These include functional enzymes, therapeutic proteins, and other proteins for various applications. This type of bioproduction minimizes the environmental impact of manufacturing and lowers the cost of downstream processing.
Additionally, I am advancing technology, which I helped develop in graduate school, to create sustainable food products. Plants convert solar energy to biomass with only about 1% efficiency. In Robert Jinkerson’s lab at UC Riverside, we worked with electrochemists to convert carbon dioxide and electricity into food four times more efficiently than photosynthesis.
What real-world problem does your work solve?
Recombinant proteins can be used in food, fuel, biomaterials, and therapeutics. Traditional recombinant protein production is energy- and resource-intensive and often reliant on sugar feedstocks. With CyanoPro, we can produce these proteins from cyanobacteria to decrease our reliance on traditional agriculture, which negatively impacts the environment, and reduce the energy requirements of downstream processing.
Through our technology to improve the efficiency of food production with electrochemistry, we can reduce the resources required to produce food. Currently, food production contributes to a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions and utilizes half of the Earth’s habitable land and 70% of our freshwater resources. Also, gaining independence from photosynthesis for food production means it won’t be as impacted by weather, which is essential as extreme weather events become more severe and frequent.
Both projects can also contribute to a concept my PI, George Church, calls “total recycling.” The idea is to create a self-sustaining life support system independent of supply chains. In this vision, biology produces everything necessary for life, like food, oxygen, and medicine, from recycled human waste products. This type of system is necessary for deep space travel and could be immensely valuable for disaster relief.
Many technologies initially developed for space, like solar panels, are now widely used on Earth. A pilot built out of this technology was recently awarded runner-up out of 300 teams during NASA’s Deep Space Food Challenge. By exploring this idea for specific situations, like space travel, we can find more sustainable and reliable ways to provide for everyone.
What inspired you to get into this field?
I have always loved nature and the outdoors. Growing up by the beach, I unfortunately saw firsthand the effects of pollution on the ocean. As I learned more about the climate crisis, I was convinced that it is the biggest issue confronting our generation.
As I was figuring out how best to contribute, I found myself drawn to biology. During my undergraduate education at UCSD I was lucky enough to work in Joeseph Ecker’s plant biology lab with Mathew Lewsey. There, I learned to appreciate photosynthetic organisms as the basis for all life and became excited about using bioengineering and synthetic biology to develop them as solutions to problems.
After graduating, I worked at Viridos (then called Synthetic Genomics) for a few years. I was part of a large team of scientists developing a liquid fuel replacement made from microalgae, which could reduce dependence on fossil fuels for transportation. This experience changed how I viewed science and inspired me to pursue a career translating discoveries out of the lab and into people’s hands.
I pursued a Ph.D. in plant biology to better understand how we can use photosynthetic organisms as tools for climate and manufacturing resiliency. Now, I am working to develop technologies that can contribute to a sustainable, circular bioeconomy.
What continues to motivate you?
Working in the climate space can be disheartening, and sometimes it’s hard to stay positive. What motivates me is the other people doing sustainability work. We have a great community of scientists, activists, and policymakers.
Working in the climate space can be disheartening, and sometimes it’s hard to stay positive. What motivates me is the other people doing sustainability work. We have a great community of scientists, activists, and policymakers. Recently, Harvard’s Salata Institute held a Climate Action Week event where a panel of young climate activists spoke about their experiences. It was so inspiring to hear 19-year-olds talk about issues within their communities that caused them to step outside the box and make an impact.
1/2 Recently, Elizabeth traveled to Washington, DC for a Department of Energy meeting. She knows that the climate community is made up of scientists, but also activists and policymakers. Credit: Elizabeth Hann 
2/2 Elizabeth traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark in 2024 for a conference where she was selected to give a short talk. She's inspired by others in the sustainability space. Credit: Elizabeth Hann
What excites you the most about your work?
What excites me most is developing products that will have a tangible effect on people’s daily lives. Imagine driving past large pools where cyanobacteria grow, producing proteins that will eventually appear in the power bars you buy at convenience stores. Or, envision a simple device that allows you to produce all the food you need, with just renewable electricity. The projects we are working on have the potential to transform how we produce things we all use every day.
What are some of the challenges that you face?
As someone interested in taking technology out of the lab, the biggest challenge is achieving cost parity for commodities with minimal government support. Right now, feeding people is relatively cheap. We have a lot of subsidies for food as it is currently grown. Plastic is inexpensive. It’s hard to make changes at scale if they aren’t cost-effective.
While the current ways of production may be cheaper in the short term, they may cost more in the long term when we account for the negative effects they have on our planet. Additionally, these products may become less reliable in the face of changing climate and supply chain disruptions. With my science, I aim to develop alternatives that can be cost-competitive with the incumbents and be produced more reliably.
Why did you want to work at the Wyss?
I don’t want to make small, incremental changes; I want to make huge, impactful changes. That can feel risky, but we need big ideas to solve climate change.
I never anticipated staying in academia after my Ph.D. I always thought I’d go straight to the biotech industry. But once I learned about the Wyss and its success in translating cool science out of the lab, I knew it was the best place for me to develop these technologies. I feel lucky to be surrounded by people eager to translate their work.
The other reason I wanted to work at the Wyss was the opportunity to work with George Church. He’s supportive of big ideas and interested in shaking up the norms. That’s the kind of science that excites me. I don’t want to make small, incremental changes; I want to make huge, impactful changes. That can feel risky, but we need big ideas to solve climate change. Now is the time to rethink how we address protein production, farming, domestic manufacturing, and fossil fuel independence.
What is unique about the Wyss? How has that impacted your work?
The Wyss is a special place that’s completely unlike anywhere else I’ve ever worked. Because my Ph.D. was in plant biology, I was surrounded by people breeding avocados and studying roots. It’s completely different to be working alongside people focused on diagnostics and therapeutics. Both are fascinating and important in different ways. That’s been extremely eye-opening, and I’ve learned more than I thought possible.
People here are also successfully spinning out companies. I’ve been interested in this for a long time and have tried to learn about it, but nothing compares to seeing people do it or meeting people who just did it.
People here are also successfully spinning out companies. I’ve been interested in this for a long time and have tried to learn about it, but nothing compares to seeing people do it or meeting people who just did it. Recently, I went to an event where a Wyss Lumineer came back to give advice to current researchers. Afterwards, I went up to him, and he said, “Oh, you’re from the Church Lab. You’re family.”
Finally, people here are ambitious, which challenges me in a good way. My colleagues and friends are all shooting for the stars. We encourage each other to take advantage of opportunities that, in the past, I might have doubted would be open to me.
How do you collaborate with and/or receive support from others across the Institute?
I’m part of the Synthetic Biology platform run by Jenny Tam, so I get a lot of support from her and collaborate with others in that group. I’m also part of the Sustainable Futures Initiative, led by Emily Stoler, which connects researchers focused on sustainability throughout the Institute. Marika Ziesack has mentored me and Alex Li has helped me with the business side of my work. All of them are super encouraging and helpful.
How have your previous work and personal experiences shaped your approach to your work today?
First, I am lucky to have had great mentors throughout my career, from being an undergrad to now. These days, I find myself doing a lot of mentoring in the lab. Second, science can be hard, so I’ve learned that it’s really important to have a community within the space to make it more enjoyable and to support you through the tough moments.
When you’re not in the lab, how do you like to spend your time?
I’m from California – I grew up in Los Angeles, went to UC San Diego, and got my Ph.D. in the desert at UC Riverside. So, once the temperature hits 60 degrees in Boston, I’m outside as much as possible. I’m glad we have outdoor spaces at the Wyss, so I can enjoy the sunshine while eating lunch. I love going to the beach, hiking, and walking. I also enjoy doing yoga, trying new restaurants, experiencing live music, and traveling.
What is something unique or fun about you that someone wouldn’t know from your resume?
I’ve petted a whale in the wild. There’s a place in Baja California, in Mexico, to which the gray whales migrate every year to have their babies. When the calves get old enough, they will come up to the boat and try to be petted. It’s totally okay from a conservation standpoint – it doesn’t harm them. I knew I was likely going to leave Southern California after my Ph.D., so right before I defended my thesis, I went down there for the weekend and got to have this amazing experience.
If you had to choose an entirely different career path, what would it be?
I could be a marine biologist or a private investigator. I love sleuthing and finding answers on the internet, so I think I could enjoy that.
What does it feel like to be working on cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to have a real and significant impact on people’s lives and society?
It’s a privilege to work at the Wyss and get the opportunity to do really interesting science that could hopefully change the world.