Robin Dowell merges genetics and computer science to investigate transcriptional regulation. In an “antedisciplinary” approach, Dr. Dowell ignores boundaries between disciplines to follow this biological problem wherever it leads. Her research group blends computational and experimental approaches to understand transcriptional regulatory networks. Most of the Dowell lab’s efforts focus on transcription factors and improving our understanding of how they alter polymerase activity. For instance, the Dowell lab has shown that the profile of eRNAs within the cell can infer changes in transcription factor activity between conditions. Much of this research hinges on the creation of new machine learning approaches to analyze vast sequencing datasets. Dr. Dowell leverages her diverse background and frequently collaborates with faculty members across departments to answer biological questions with computational tools.