The College of Engineering and Computer Science at Florida Atlantic University has launched the Center for Omics Technologies and Data Engineering (CODE), a new interdisciplinary research hub designed to advance engineering-driven innovation at the intersection of computation, data science, and the life sciences. CODE positions FAU at the forefront of data-intensive biological and biomedical discovery by uniting expertise in engineering, computer science and medicine to address complex challenges in health, biotechnology and the environment.
CODE focuses on the development of scalable, robust and interpretable computational and engineering methods that transform massive, complex biological and environmental datasets into actionable insight.
“CODE represents a major step forward for Florida Atlantic and for South Florida’s growing technology and biotechnology ecosystem,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “The center unites engineering excellence with the life sciences to address some of the most pressing challenges in health and biotechnology. CODE will not only power groundbreaking research but will also cultivate a highly skilled workforce prepared to lead in emerging fields where computation, artificial intelligence, and omics technologies converge.”
Central to the center’s mission is the integration and analysis of omics data – including genomics (DNA variation and gene structure), transcriptomics (gene expression), proteomics (protein structure and function), metabolomics (cellular metabolic processes), and epigenomics (regulatory modifications affecting gene activity). By combining these layers of biological information, CODE researchers aim to build a more complete and predictive understanding of living systems across scales.
The center is led by Michael DeGiorgio, Ph.D., director of CODE, and associate chair and professor in FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Department of Biomedical Engineering. Under his leadership, CODE brings together senior faculty from engineering, computer science and medicine, alongside research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and a large cohort of graduate students. This interdisciplinary team offers end-to-end expertise, from experimental design and generation of multi-omics data to advanced computational analysis, algorithm development, and the translation of discoveries into deployable tools and engineered biological and biomedical solutions.
“CODE creates a unique opportunity to rethink how we study biology and engineer solutions for human health and the environment,” said DeGiorgio. “By bringing together advanced computation, data engineering, and multi-omics technologies under one roof, we can move beyond isolated analyses toward integrated, predictive models of complex biological systems. This center empowers our faculty and students to ask bigger questions, tackle problems at unprecedented scale, and translate data into knowledge that can drive real-world innovation.”
Research conducted through CODE spans a broad range of application areas, including population and cancer genomics, where large-scale genomic datasets are used to identify genetic risk factors and disease mechanisms; multi-omics data integration, enabling researchers to connect molecular variation to biological function and clinical outcomes; and molecular and metabolic engineering, which supports the design and optimization of engineered biological systems.
Additional focus areas include synthetic biology and biomanufacturing, where data-driven modeling guides the development of engineered organisms for sustainable materials, therapeutics and industrial processes.
CODE also advances pioneering computational technologies, including AI– and machine learning-driven approaches to human health, quantum- and hardware-accelerated analytics for high-throughput biological data, and novel data engineering frameworks that ensure reproducibility, interpretability and scalability. These capabilities enable researchers to analyze datasets that range from individual genomes to population-scale studies and from cellular systems to environmental and ecological data.
In addition to its research mission, CODE serves as a platform for collaboration with industry partners, health care systems, government agencies and national laboratories. Through these partnerships, the center supports translational research and real-world impact, while providing students and postdoctoral researchers with hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research, specialized workshops, mentorship programs, and collaborative problem-solving across academic, clinical and industrial domains.
“This center positions Florida Atlantic at the forefront of data-driven biological and biomedical innovation,” Batalama said. “CODE will accelerate discoveries, strengthen industry partnerships, and further elevate our research impact.”
The center’s dedicated space is currently under renovation and will be located in the Engineering East building on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, providing a physical hub for collaboration, training and innovation as CODE advances the future of omics-enabled engineering and data science.
– FAU –
About FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science:
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for innovative research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Master of Science in AI (first in Florida), Master of Science and Bachelor in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University serves more than 32,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses along Florida’s Southeast coast. Recognized as one of only 11 institutions nationwide to achieve three Carnegie Foundation designations – R1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production,” “Opportunity College and University,” and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification – FAU stands at the intersection of academic excellence and social mobility. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, FAU is also nationally recognized as a Top 25 Best-In-Class College and cited by Washington Monthly as “one of the country’s most effective engines of upward mobility.” To learn more, visit www.fau.edu.
