2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering of built-environment microbiomes is an evolving field that has gained increased attention in parallel with recognition of the key roles that built-environment microbiomes play in human health. Lack of tools to elucidate how microbial systems operate in built environments has impeded assessment of built-environment health and leveraging microbiomes to improve built-environment health. Microbiome engineers must integrate knowledge of microbial ecology, synthetic biology, genetics, bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning and related societal, ethical and policy implications. For real world impacts, microbiome engineers must learn to not only integrate across fields but also partner with industry to translate discovery and innovation to in-field application for societal benefit. Since many graduate training programs in U.S. universities are siloed, engineering research centers can provide unique opportunities for transdisciplinary training, immersive research, development of entrepreneurial skills, and interaction with industry partners. This paper describes the training model developed by the NSF funded Precision Microbiome Engineering Research Center (PreMiEr). PreMiEr’s vision is to enable bioinformed design and operation of smart, healthy built environments through microbiome engineering and to train the next generation of engineers and scientists to work across disciplines as leaders in this emerging field. This model integrates training across five universities and multiple disciplines. PreMiEr first launched a comprehensive technical workshop series featuring core bioinformatics, data science, statistics and microbiology topics. Since trainees enter from different disciplines, it was essential to offer introductory workshops for those with no background in key areas. Additional technical and professional training evolved to address trainees self-reported learning gaps or those identified by program evaluation. These include: a Seminar Series with cutting edge overviews of research; a student lead Journal Club featuring literature review covering knowledge gaps linked to students' research; Center wide convergent research meetings to accelerate collaborative outputs and understanding of research linkages across projects; Industry sponsored Technical Workshops; and an Accelerator series to support students and faculty in moving technology innovations toward societal impacts. Results from rigorous program evaluation has shaped refinement of training with students' ratings now linking training elements to development of targeted knowledge and skills. Core competencies for engineering microbiomes in built environments (MoBE) were defined and assessed with significant student rated gains. Assessment will be further validated by faculty ratings of doctoral students' progress in these areas. This initiative is significant due to the lack of graduate‑level training in the US in microbiome engineering in the built environment space.