Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute

The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute (ODBI) is an interdisciplinary research center building a vibrant community of faculty, students, postdocs, staff and partners, with research focusing on cellular, device and computational bioengineering, all under one roof. ODBI is working to unlock fundamental discoveries in the life sciences and apply engineering principles to pressing human needs.

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image of breast tissue showing different colored cells — Microscopy image of a tumor in breast tissue. Tumor cells are marked in red, immune cells are marked in yellow and green. Image courtesy of Erik Storrs, Washington University in St. Louis.

Tracking cell mutations, a new tool reveals how tumors evolve

false color microscope image of a cell nucleus with chromosomes highlighted. — Researchers have developed a tool that can bend DNA strands using light. The work represents a new way to probe the genome. Shown here, from an unrelated study, are chromosomes (blue) inside a human cell nucleus. Image by Steve Mabon and Tom Misteli, NCI Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

Researchers bend DNA strands with light, revealing a new way to study the genome

Floating seaweed in the ocean. — Floating Sargassum in Puerto Rico (photo courtesy of Loretta Roberson of Marine Biological Laboratory).

Transforming troublesome seaweed into a feedstock of the future

A person (face not visible) wearing a white lab coat and blue disposable gloves holds a square lab plate in their left hand. Their right hand holds a pair of tweezers which they are using to pick up one of several small green plants on the plate. — Jonathan Conway, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering, received an innovation grant for the project “Engineering symbiotic plant-microbe interactions for sustainable agriculture.” Photo by Sameer A. Khan/Fotobuddy

Since 2008, innovation funds have fostered research in AI fairness, sustainable agriculture, drug discovery and more

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

From studying robotic fish schools to spreading sustainability, celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Plaque that reads "junior faculty awards 2024".

Junior faculty awards recognize outstanding teaching and research

Joshua Atkinson outdoor portrait

Joshua Atkinson

Civil and Environmental Engineering

José Avalos

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Clifford Brangwynne

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Mark Brynildsen

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Daniel J. Cohen

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Tian-Ming Fu

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Jerelle Joseph

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Portrait of Jared Toettcher.

Jared Toettcher