Pioneering Bioengineer Michelle O'Malley Leads Groundbreaking Microbiome Research

O'Malley's $6 million grant will study the gut-autism connection, building on her impressive career in chemical and biomedical engineering.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:27am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Michelle O'Malley, a professor at UC Santa Barbara, is a rising star in the field of bioengineering. She has received over $46 million in research grants, including a $6 million award from the Wellcome Foundation to study the link between gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder. O'Malley is the first woman to lead a major STEM research center at UCSB, and her work spans converting agricultural waste into valuable products and exploring the role of the microbiome in child development.

Why it matters

O'Malley's research on the gut-autism connection could lead to groundbreaking interventions and treatments, while her work on repurposing waste into useful chemicals demonstrates the broad impact of chemical and biomedical engineering. As a woman in a male-dominated field, her leadership of a major research center is an important milestone for diversity in STEM.

The details

O'Malley's journey began with an initial curiosity about her brother's chemical engineering studies, which led her to earn degrees in chemical and biomedical engineering. She now serves as the interim chair of UCSB's Department of Bioengineering, the Cliff R. Scholle Endowed Chair in Chemical Engineering, and the director of the NSF BioFoundry for Extreme and Exceptional Fungi, Archaea and Bacteria (ExFAB). At ExFAB, she and her team are investigating how changes to the gut microbiome in babies may impact the development of autism spectrum disorder.

  • O'Malley joined UC Santa Barbara as an assistant professor in 2012.
  • ExFAB, the research center she directs, began operations earlier this year.

The players

Michelle O'Malley

A professor at UC Santa Barbara who has received over $46 million in research grants, including a $6 million award from the Wellcome Foundation to study the link between gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder. She is the first woman to lead a major STEM research center at UCSB.

Sherylle Mills Englander

The managing director of ExFAB, who describes O'Malley as a "true superwoman" for her ability to lead a large research group, build innovative facilities, and manage millions in research funding while also being a mother of three.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Michelle is a true superwoman. She is a highly engaged mother of three in addition to managing one of the largest research groups at UCSB, building a first-of-its-kind anaerobic chamber and managing millions of research dollars.”

— Sherylle Mills Englander, Managing Director, ExFAB

“He was just very attentive to us, and he took a lot of time. It was a room of 90 or so people that were all just sort of very starstruck. He spent about an hour with us, talking and telling us about how he really was a champion for what we were all doing and supported us and how he was going to try and make sure that American innovation and science stayed at the forefront.”

— Michelle O'Malley

What’s next

The research at ExFAB on the connection between gut microbiome and autism spectrum disorder could potentially lead to new interventions and treatments for the condition.

The takeaway

Michelle O'Malley's pioneering work in bioengineering, from repurposing agricultural waste to studying the gut-autism link, demonstrates the transformative potential of STEM research. As a woman leading a major research center, she is also inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.