Welcome to the Sommars Lab !
We are a biology research lab at Wheaton College led by Dr. Meredith Sommars, where we explore the fascinating world of gene regulation — asking how cells control which genes are turned on or off, and what happens when that control goes wrong.
Our work sits at the intersection of genetics, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. We use a combination of wet-lab techniques and computational approaches to understand how transcription factor proteins shape gene expression programs, with a particular focus on metabolism and how the body responds to changes in diet and energy demands.
At the Sommars Lab, undergraduate research is at the heart of everything we do. We believe that doing real science — not just reading about it — is one of the most powerful ways to grow as a scientist and as a person. Whether you're pipetting for the first time or analyzing your first genomic dataset, you'll be asking genuine questions and contributing to work that matters.
If you're a Wheaton student curious about genetics, genomics, or molecular biology — or just eager to find out what research feels like — we'd love to hear from you.