NOAA Omics
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What Is NOAA Omics?
Omics - the study of DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites - delivers transformational insights that advance ecosystem understanding, strengthen environmental monitoring, and enable sustainable fisheries management. Next-Generation biotechnologies expand the scale, speed, and precision of biological data. NOAA Omics harnesses the power of this advanced technology to accelerate high-impact science, enhance decision making, and improve operational efficiency. NOAA Omics scientists, from across NOAA line-offices, including NOS, OAR, NEDIS, & NMFS drive innovation and integration of omics techniques - safeguarding marine resources, detecting threats, and reinforcing the United State’s leadership in ocean science and technology.
Omics Applications Support the Bioeconomy
NOAA Omics Facts
What is eDNA?
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is DNA from living organisms collected from the environment, including from soil, sediment, water, and air. This DNA comes from traces of dead skin, mucous, or feces as well as whole microbial organisms.
By collecting and analyzing samples from the environment researchers can determine a snapshot of which species were recently found there. This is especially effective in the marine environment, where many species are secretive or otherwise difficult to detect using other methods.
eDNA technology is a simple, cost effective, and non-invasive survey method that enables critical insights into the nation’s marine biodiversity. This technology has been refined over the past decades and is sufficiently robust, accessible, and reliable to provide biodiversity data fit for a variety of routine applications across NOAA to identify and track marine life. eDNA is integrated into NOAA’s routine science management responsibilities such as the Pacific hake survey, seafood inspection, ocean exploration, and monitoring for protected species.
How the method works:
There are three main analysis strategies of eDNA:
- Targeted eDNA techniques: Targeted eDNA techniques provide rapid DNA quantification, which enables the identification of a single target species and functional genes–a segment of DNA that contributes to a specific biological process. This approach is useful for detecting invasive species, protected species, estimating the abundance of specific fish stocks, and forecasting harmful algal blooms (HABS.)
- DNA metabarcoding: Instead of searching for only one specific species, this targeted technique provides a snapshot of tens to thousands of species found in an environmental sample. This approach can detect species from microbes to whales and everything in between. DNA metabarcoding is helpful for tracking community composition shifts over time and across changing environmental conditions, providing a powerful tool to evaluate marine ecosystem health.
- Metagenomics: Metagenomics aims to capture all the DNA sequences in an environmental sample. Given that most DNA in the environment is from microbes, this approach is commonly used to study the structure and function of bacteria and phytoplankton. It allows scientists to detect which microbes are present with high accuracy, what their potential functions like photosynthesis or HAB toxin production are present, and how microbes both respond to and shape marine ecosystems.
Why NOAA Uses It:
eDNA technology provides routine, accessible, and non-invasive biodiversity surveillance across NOAA line offices. It enhances ocean biosurveillance, tracks invasive and protected species, estimates fisheries abundances, forecasts harmful algal blooms (HABs), and supports ecosystem-based assessments.
Where NOAA is Using eDNA
- From Water to Data: A Roadmap for Using eDNA in Stock Assessments
- Improved eDNA Primer Enhances Rockfish Species Identification in Alaska
- What’s in the Water Might Be A New Way to Measure the Amount of Fish Present
- eDNA Expands Species Surveys to Capture a More Complete Picture
- White House strategy to capitalize on the immense power of eDNA is unveiled
- Tracking Marine Life With Invisible Clues: eDNA Enhances Ecosystem Monitoring
- New Study Sheds Light on Detection Range of eDNA
- How Environmental DNA Can Help Our Ocean
- Scientists Use Innovative DNA Technology to Characterize Nearshore Marine Fish Communities in Southeast Alaska
- Genetic “Nets” Detect DNA as Accurately as Real Ones, New Research Shows
- Environmental DNA Research in the Northeast
- Unlocking the power of eDNA for marine conservation
- Simple-to-use eDNA test will help track marine species
eDNA Applications
Omics In The News
The items on this page capture some of the big news as it relates to NOAA Omics. The stories posted represent a snapshot and the list here is not all encompassing; posting of external links does not constitute specific endorsement of a story or news outlet. Check back regularly for updates!
2026
A new study investigates oil-degrading microbes a year before Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill NOAA Research News.
Freshwater SHARC: new HAB monitoring technology to be deployed in Saginaw Bay NOAA Research News.
The Secrets of Salish Sea’s Sixgill Sharks NOAA Research News.
Advancing Agency-Level Reforms to Restore American Seafood Competitiveness NOAA Research News.
NOAA detects harmful toxin growing in Lake Erie earlier than past years NOAA Research News.
eDNA could play a bigger role in stock assessments NOAA Research News.
New eDNA tool to help track recovery of sunflower sea star, a Pacific Coast ‘apex predator’ NOAA Research News.
Advancing Autonomous eDNA Capacity with the McLane RoCSI NOAA Research News.
Bill introduced by Alaska’s Murkowski aims to promote use of eDNA analysis in fishery management NOAA Research News.
Guidance and best practices for species identification using eDNA metabarcoding NOAA Research News.
A Year in the Life of Larry the Whale Shark NOAA Research News.
Tagged and Tracked: Mapping the Journeys of Pacific Cod in the Bering Sea NOAA Research News.
Water World Genomics: Unlocking Ocean Secrets With eDNA NOAA Research News.
Genetics Shines New Light on Cod Populations and Distributions in Alaska NOAA Research News.
NOAA Ocean Exploration and AOML collaborate to release first eDNA data from Okeanos Explorer NOAA Research News. (AOML)
Scientists reveal identity of mysterious ‘golden orb’ collected during NOAA expedition NOAA Research News.
From Data to Discovery: Unlocking Ocean Secrets With eDNA NOAA Research News.
Environmental DNA in NYC’s East River reveals clues about nearby human and animal residents NOAA Research News.
Applying omics techniques to examine microscopic life fueling Gulf region ecosystems NOAA Research News. (AOML)
New Early Oyster Development Research Gives Insight into Potential Sterility Methods NOAA Research News.
From sample to source: tracking pollution pathways in AOML’s Molecular and Environmental Microbiology Lab NOAA Research News. (AOML)
Looking into the future of marine microbial observatories NOAA Research News. (PMEL)
Employing Omics techniques to examine crucial restoration efforts across the Mission: Iconic Reefs NOAA Research News. (PMEL)
Genomics Help Uncover Mysteries of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna NOAA Research News.
First Joint NOAA Killer Whale Survey Examines Endangered Southern Residents’ Shift to Coast NOAA Research News.
eDNA uncovers salmon winter habitat usage in Northeast Pacific Ocean NOAA Research News.
NOAA Fisheries embracing eDNA tool for rockfish management NOAA Research News.
Seminar Series
The NOAA Omics Seminar Series was established to increase transparency and collaborations and highlight the groundbreaking omics research currently underway within and outside the organization. This seminar series takes place on the third Wednesday of every month at 2pm ET / 11am PT. More information can be found on the NOAA Science Seminar Series webpage.
Upcoming Seminars
October 21, 2026 (register here)
- Title: Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Close-Kin Mark-Recapture Abundance Estimation
- Presenter: Matthew Lauretta
Past Seminars
2026
September 30, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: The California Intertidal Biodiversity DNA Barcode Library Project: Decoding California’s Intertidal Zone One Species at a Time
- Presenter: Susie Theroux
August 19, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: Molecular characterization and diagnosis of stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD)
- Presenter: Dr. Micheal Studivan
July 15, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: The role of structural variants in defining population structure and repeated local adaptation in two clupeid fishes
- Presenter: Carl St. John
June 24, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: Creatures of Darkness: Investigating Life and Light in the Twilight Zone
- Presenter: Heather Bracken-Grissom
May 28, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: From Seawater to Sequences: Exploring NOAA’s New Deep-Sea Environmental DNA Dataset
- Presenter: Nicole Miller & Luke Thompson
May 20, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: From biodiversity detection to ecosystem function: eDNA perspectives on deep pelagic ecology
- Presenter: Nina Yang
April 30, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: Seascape Alaska – 2023 Expedition Discoveries
- Presenter: Allen Collins, Meredith Westington, & Logan Kline
April 15, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: Understanding environmental Vibrio parahamolyticus genetics in different coastal environments
- Presenter: David Silva
March 18, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: New insights into deep sea biodiversity distributions
- Presenter: Annette Govindarajan
February 25, 2026 (recording here)
- Title: Detection and relative quantification of Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) from environmental DNA (eDNA) samples using quantitative PCR
- Presenter: Dwan Jackson
Quarterly Highlights
NOAA Omics provides updates on omics infrastructure, workforce enhancement, projects, and partnerships and documents progress in implementing the NOAA Omics Strategy via these quarterly reports.
2026
FY26Q3 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY26Q2 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY26Q1 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
2025
FY25Q4 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY25Q3 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY25Q2 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY25Q1 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
2024
FY24Q4 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
FY24Q3 NOAA Omics Quarterly Report
Resources
NOAA Omics utilizes omics and eDNA tools to address a variety of basic and applied research questions. Listed below are technical and classroom resources that detail how NOAA leverages these technologies for mission priorities.
Factsheets & Strategies
The Value of Omics Technology Factsheet
Life Cycle of a Deep Sea Sample
NOAA Omics Nationwide Impact Factsheet
Environmental DNA
National Aquatic eDNA Strategy
National Aquatic eDNA Strategy Overview
Exploring Environmental DNA Video Series
NOAA Ocean Exploration eDNA Factsheet
General Resources
What is DNA Barcoding and Why is it Important?
NOAA Omics Data Management Guide
Technical Resources
Contact
Krista Nichols, PhD
NOAA Omics Working Group Chair
krista.nichols@noaa.gov
Krista Nichols is the Program Manager for the Genetics and Evolution (GE) Program in the Conservation Biology Division at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center. As the GE Program Manager, she leads a portfolio of research focusing on the genetics, genomics, and adaptation of aquatic organisms. She concurrently serves as the Chair of the NOAA Omics Working Group and the Lead for the NOAA Fisheries Omics Strategic Initiative. In these leadership roles, Krista coordinates communication, alignment, and projects across the agency to modernize data collection for surveys, stock, and protected species assessments. Her work drives the strategic integration and application of eDNA, population genomics, epigenetic ageing, and other advanced omics tools to support NOAA’s mission and operational impact. Prior to her current roles, Krista was an Associate Professor at Purdue University, where she led an active research program in the ecological genomics of aquatic organisms. She holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Washington State University, a Master of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina.
Zachary Gold, PhD
NOAA Omics Working Group Vice Chair
zachary.gold@noaa.gov
Dr. Zachary Gold is the Ocean Molecular Ecology Program Lead at the NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle and the Vice Chair of the NOAA Omics Working Group under the NOAA Science Council. His research seeks to leverage the advances in molecular biology to scale eDNA approaches alongside physical and chemical measurements to provide higher resolution inventories of marine biodiversity, increasing monitoring comprehensiveness as well as frequency in time and space. Zack's research portfolio includes developing large scale eDNA ocean biodiversity time series on the West Coast Ocean Acidification cruises, EcoFOCI (Ecosystems & Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations) cruises, and CalCOFI (California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations); innovating novel technologies for eDNA applications like mooring based eDNA samplers and quantitative metabarcoding; enhancing bioinformatics software resources to ensure trust in eDNA data products; and improving data management, standards, and provisioning of eDNA results. Zack holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UCLA and a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology with a minor in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.
Nicole Miller, MSc
NOAA Omics Coordinator
nicole.miller@noaa.gov
Nicole Miller joined NOAA Ocean Exploration and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth Systems Science in January 2023 as the NOAA Omics Coordinator. In this role, she leads and coordinates complex, agency-wide omics initiatives, driving strategic alignment, cross-program integration, and optimization of omics and eDNA data assets to maximize scientific and operational impact. Nicole manages stakeholder engagement across NOAA line offices, facilitates interagency collaboration, and contributes to the development of programmatic frameworks that advance data standardization, accessibility, and scalability. She also plays a key role in the strategic planning and implementation of omics and eDNA technologies within NOAA Ocean Exploration, ensuring alignment with mission priorities, advancing innovation, and supporting informed decision-making through data-driven approaches. Her work includes portfolio coordination and the establishment of best practices for integrating emerging omics capabilities into federal science operations. Prior to joining NOAA, Nicole worked in the medical device industry, where she contributed to cross-functional project execution and regulatory-aligned product development. She holds a Master of Science in Ecology and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, both from the University of Florida.