Florida Atlantic University has launched the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering (CODE), a new interdisciplinary research center focused on applying engineering and computational methods to large-scale biological and environmental data. The center brings together expertise in engineering, computer science, and medicine to support data-intensive research across genomics, cancer biology, synthetic biology, and biomanufacturing.
For laboratory professionals, the launch signals FAU’s investment in scalable omics data engineering as laboratories confront growing demands for reproducibility, interpretability, and integration across complex datasets. By centralizing multi-omics analysis, AI-driven modeling, and data engineering infrastructure, CODE is designed to support research at population scale while translating computational advances into deployable laboratory tools and workflows.
What the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering supports
The Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering focuses on transforming massive biological datasets into predictive models of living systems. Research at the center spans genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics, enabling researchers to connect molecular variation with biological function across multiple scales.
Core technical priorities include:
- Multi-omics data integration across biological and environmental systems
- Computational modeling and algorithm development for predictive biology
- AI- and machine learning-driven analytics for health and biotechnology
- Omics data engineering frameworks that support scalability, interpretability, and reproducibility
For lab managers, these capabilities underscore the need for robust computational infrastructure, standardized data pipelines, and interdisciplinary expertise to support modern laboratory operations.
Research applications across health, biotechnology, and the environment
Research conducted through the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering spans population and cancer genomics, leveraging large-scale genomic datasets to identify genetic risk factors and disease mechanisms. The center also supports molecular and metabolic engineering efforts to design and optimize engineered biological systems.
Additional application areas include synthetic biology and biomanufacturing, where data-driven modeling informs the development of engineered organisms for therapeutics, sustainable materials, and industrial processes. CODE also advances hardware-accelerated and quantum-enabled analytics to support high-throughput biological data analysis across laboratory settings.
Leadership and interdisciplinary training
The multi-omics research center is led by Michael DeGiorgio, director of CODE and associate chair and professor in FAU’s departments of electrical engineering and computer science and biomedical engineering. Under his leadership, the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering brings together senior faculty, research scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students to provide end-to-end expertise, from experimental design and multi-omics data generation to advanced computational analysis and tool development.
By embedding interdisciplinary training into its research mission, the center provides students and postdoctoral researchers with hands-on experience in omics data engineering and computational life sciences. This workforce development focus aligns with the growing demand for laboratory professionals skilled in AI-enabled and data-driven research workflows.
Collaboration and operational impact for laboratories
The Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering also serves as a platform for collaboration with industry partners, health care systems, government agencies, and national laboratories. These partnerships support translational research and accelerate the deployment of computational and omics-enabled tools into real-world laboratory environments.
The center’s dedicated space, currently under renovation, will be in the Engineering East building on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. As the multi-omics research center becomes fully operational, CODE is expected to strengthen FAU’s role in data-driven biological and biomedical discovery and to offer a model for how laboratories can integrate omics technologies with advanced data engineering at scale.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
