As the research team’s co-principal investigator, Dr. Thompson oversees aspects of the project related to microbes and how they interact with gelatinous grazers, which are jelly-like ocean animals. In this role she and students measure the types, sizes, diversity, and numbers of different microbes in and around gelatinous grazers.

The processing and studying of samples takes place in Dr. Thompson’s lab at Portland State University, where she and her research team use a suite of methods for studying small cells including microscopy, flow cytometry, and DNA sequences. From this research, Dr. Thompson hopes to advance the understanding of carbon and energy flow in the ocean and how they drive major earth cycles.  

Dr. Thompson earned her PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Biological Oceanography with a focus on Microbial Oceanography. She currently serves as a faculty member for the Portland State Biology Department and the Center for Life in Extreme Environments (CLEE) at Portland State University. Her research spans over a decade and includes work that furthers the understanding of the interconnectedness of marine microbes with ocean ecosystems.

In addition to this project, the National Science Foundation has granted her multiple awards to study topics such as ecosystems on the Oregon Coast, coexisting microbes in the Laurentian Great Lakes, and the opportunity to develop a system to measure aspects of microbial life in extreme environments. Dr. Thompson has received grant funding from the National Institute of Health, the Department of Energy, and other organizations. 

Dr. Thompson enjoys translating ocean research for broad audiences. Her outreach includes instructing, training, and mentoring students from high school to the doctorate level, with a special focus on supporting those from underrepresented backgrounds. When not conducting research, Dr. Thompson remains in awe of the vastness and mystery of the ocean by enjoying sailing journeys around the world with her family.