Meet Ilana Glazer’s husband, David Rooklin, a NYC‑based scientist & tech CEO
Ilana Glazer’s husband is the co-founder and CEO of Redesign Science. His academic and professional record speaks for itself. But there’s more to him than a polished résumé. Behind the lab coat and leadership role is a life that’s anything but ordinary.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- David Rooklin is a scientist and tech CEO based in New York City
- He holds a PhD in computational biology from New York University and has a strong background in molecular modelling and academic research.
- Rooklin met comedian Ilana Glazer in 2012, and the couple married in a private ceremony in 2017.
- Despite his professional success, Rooklin maintains a low public profile and occasionally shares personal moments through art on Instagram.
David Rooklin's profile summary
| Full name | David Rooklin |
| Age | 45 (as of 2025) |
| Date of birth | 21st June, 1980 |
| Place of birth | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Alma mater | New York University |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Ilana Glazer |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Molecular biologist |
Who is Ilana Glazer’s husband?
Ilana Glazer’s husband, David Rooklin, is a scientist with deep roots in molecular and computational biology. He studied biochemistry at Oberlin College, graduating in 2002, and later earned a PhD in computational biology from New York University in 2012. At the start of his relationship with Glazer, he was working as a postdoctoral researcher at New York University. His primary focus was on molecular modelling.
What does David Rooklin do for a living?
David Rooklin is the co-founder and CEO of Redesign Science. The biotech company was launched in October 2017. Rooklin leads a team of top-tier scientists, engineers, and drug developers focused on transforming drug discovery through advanced molecular simulation. Their approach goes beyond static protein analysis, using mixed simulation techniques to uncover hidden drug targets.
His company has already made impressive strides in the biotech industry. In 2021, Redesign secured $15 million in Seed-2 and Seed-3 funding rounds.
David Rooklin’s career
Before founding Redesign Science, David Rooklin spent over a decade immersed in academic research and drug development. His career at New York University spanned more than 11 years. It started in 2006 as a doctoral student in computational biology.
Source: Instagram
After completing his PhD, Rooklin continued at NYU as a postdoctoral research scientist from 2012 to 2016. He deepened his work in drug design and software development before serving as a research associate for over a year.
Earlier in his career, Rooklin held a research technician role at the University of Colorado Boulder. He also interned at Merck in 2009, where he conducted gene network analysis to identify drug targets for cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and hypertension.
David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer
David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer have been together since 2012. Glazer confirmed this during a June 2017 appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan. She mentioned that they had just marked five years together at the time. Rooklin was also referenced as Glazer’s boyfriend in a 2014 New Yorker profile of the comedian and her Broad City co-star Abbi Jacobson.
How did Ilana Glazer meet David Rooklin?
Ilana Glazer met David Rooklin in 2012 at Washington Square Park in New York City. She once described the moment as instant and mutual.
“We met in Washington Square Park and we just made just made eyes and we were like, 'Damn,'" she said.
Their connection was quick and casual. They started dating soon after but kept things private. The pair were first seen publicly together at the Inside Amy Schumer premiere on April 24, 2013.
When did David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer get married?
David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer got married in February 2017 in a private ceremony. News of their wedding became public after Glazer’s friend, comedian Phoebe Robinson, shared a photo of the couple on social media to congratulate them.
A day later, Glazer confirmed the news herself on Instagram. She posted a picture with Rooklin and captioned it,
“We got married #whitelove.”
Do David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer have children?
Yes. David Rooklin and Ilana Glazer became parents in July 2021 when they welcomed their daughter. Glazer announced the news on Instagram with a candid photo of herself breastfeeding. She joked that she had been doing it in compression socks for the past three weeks.
Rooklin also marked the occasion with a hand-drawn sketch of Glazer as a new mum. He shared the sketch on his own Instagram.
Source: Getty Images
The couple has chosen to keep their daughter's name and face private. However, Ilana has occasionally spoken about her experience as a mother. In a June 2022 interview for PEOPLE and Parents magazine, she described the experience as intriguing, saying it’s made her reflect on how both she and her daughter are constantly growing and learning.
She also mentioned the challenges of sleep during pregnancy and said she wished she had been told how exhausting it would be. Glazer added that while there’s now more support for working mums, she still finds it hard to accept help, even when it’s available.
FAQs about Ilana Glazer’s husband
- Who is Ilana Glazer’s husband? Ilana Glazer’s husband is David Rooklin.
- What does Ilana Glazer's partner do for a living? Ilana Glazer's partner is the co-founder and CEO of Redesign Science, a biotech company based in New York City.
- When did Ilana Glazer and David Rooklin get married? Ilana Glazer and David Rooklin got married in February 2017 in a private ceremony at City Hall.
- Do Ilana Glazer and David Rooklin have children? Yes, Ilana Glazer and David Rooklin have one daughter, born in July 2021.
- Where did David Rooklin go to university? David Rooklin studied biochemistry at Oberlin College and later earned a PhD in computational biology from New York University.
- Is David Rooklin active on social media? David Rooklin is not widely active on social media, though he has occasionally shared personal artwork and life moments on Instagram.
- What is computational biology? Computational biology is a field of science that uses computer models and simulations to study biological systems and processes.
Final word
Ilana Glazer’s husband has been a pioneering scientist and tech CEO whose work is transforming how drugs are discovered and developed. His contributions to biotech are both innovative and impactful. At the same time, his relationship with Glazer reveals a grounded, deeply personal side to his story.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
