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Computing + Biology

When imagining the future of technology, sometimes all we need to do is look out the window — or into a microscope.

Our researchers take inspiration from nature to redefine what a computer can be, from data storage using synthetic DNA, to sensors modeled on insects and leaves. We also advance technologies to help solve biology’s biggest mysteries, such as computational approaches for understanding the mechanisms of disease and brain-computer interfaces that can restore or augment physical function and mobility.


Groups & Labs

Accessible Accordion

Areas of Expertise

Societal Impact

Results will appear in alphabetical order.

Scatterplot of multi-colored dots, with a large cluster of dots occupying roughly two-thirds of the frame, with smaller clusters aligned by color and scattered individual dots arranged along one side of the main cluster

AIMS Lab

The AI for bioMedical Sciences (AIMS) Lab fundamentally advances the way AI is integrated with biology and clinical medicine by addressing novel scientific questions spanning explainable AI, model auditing, disease drivers, and more.

Healthy neuron

Golub Lab

The Golub Lab develops computational models and algorithms for understanding how single-trial neural population activity drives our abilities to generate movements, make decisions, and learn from experience.

Closeup of AI-augmented headphone on person's ear

Mobile Intelligence Lab

The interdisciplinary Mobile Intelligence Lab builds intelligent systems and tools for tackling hard technical and societal problems, including battery-free computing, medical diagnostics, augmented human perception and more.

Gloved hands piping liquid into a smalll rectangular nanopore device connected to a laptop

Molecular Information Systems Lab (MISL)

MISL explores the intersection of information technology and molecular biology using in-silico and wet lab experiments, drawing upon expertise from computer architecture, programming languages, synthetic biology and biochemistry.

Vials of DNA samples being prepared for genetic sequencing

Mostafavi Lab

The Mostafavi Lab develops machine learning and statistical methods that combine evidence across multiple types of molecular/genomics data and disentangle spurious from meaningful correlations for new insights into mechanisms of health and disease.

Neural Systems Lab featured photo with an activated brain.

Neural Systems Lab

The Neural Systems Lab at the UW focuses on understanding the brain using computational models and simulations, and applying this knowledge to the task of developing human-like artificial intelligence (AI) and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs).

A person holds up a miniature sensor

Sensor Systems Laboratory

The Sensor Systems Laboratory invents new sensor systems, devises new ways to power and communicate with them, and develops algorithms for using them, with applications in the domains of bioelectronics, robotics, and ubiquitous computing.

Closeup of a person's finger illuminated in red by smartphone camera

UbiComp Lab

The Ubiquitous Computing (UbiComp) Lab develops innovative systems for health sensing, low-power sensing, energy sensing, activity recognition and novel user interface technology for real-world applications.

Highlights