Somer Matar

Somer graduated from Keene State College with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Following graduation, Somer worked as a research associate and laboratory manager for a small biotech company in Connecticut where she developed blood biomarkers for neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer. As the clinical coordinator and patient liaison, Somer developed a passion for molecular pathology in the clinical setting. She is board certified as a technologist in molecular biology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology. Somer is completing her thesis studies in the Leach Lab where she is targeting epigenetic drivers of intratumor heterogeneity in a KRAS-initiated zebrafish pancreatic cancer model. Somer won the Best Poster Award during the 2021 MCB recruitment weekend and is the recipient of the 2023 Albert J. Ryan Fellowship. She recently served on the NH-INBRE Alumni Advisory Board and is the cofounder of the NH-INBRE Alumni Medical School Mentoring Program. Outside of the lab, Somer enjoys collecting houseplants and cooking middle eastern dishes.