Dr. Dorothea Thompson received the 2022 College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences (CPHS) Research Award. Her nomination letter stated, “she has exceptional attention to detail, broad understanding of many scientific fields, and impressive career research accomplishments.”
Thompson joined the Campbell family in 2015 as an associate professor of Microbiology and Immunology. She has a B.A. in Microbiology and English, a M.S. in Anaerobic Microbiology, a M.A. in English, a PhD in Molecular Microbiology, and in 2012 she also graduated with her Doctor of Jurisprudence. She possesses an extensive research background and has garnered an impressive 4,393 citations for her scientific work.
Thompson has filled numerous unique roles throughout her career such as working in the environmental sciences division of a laboratory, acting as a scientific consultant and writer, serving as a technology advisor and patent law clerk, and even completing a fellowship with the FDA. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has published and co-advised a significant amount of research.
“She has published over 36 scientific articles involving bacteria and her work ranges from systems analysis like proteomics and DNA microarrays to multidrug resistance of pathological microbes. Even though most of that work was initiated at Oak Ridge Laboratory and at Purdue University, an R1 Research Institution, she ‘reinvented’ her research strategy after coming to Campbell by shifting her focus to case reports, collaborations with CPHS faculty members and human subjects. Since 2017, Thompson has published 11 journal articles as a Campbell faculty member while serving on multiple committees and teaching undergraduate, graduate and professional courses,” her nomination letter praised.
In 2021 Thompson established a new course, Microbiology: A Clinical Approach (PHSC 285). The course integrates laboratory simulations with critical thinking challenges. She is diligent in her endeavors and seeks to discover and present new material to students. Faculty agreed she is well-deserving of this award.
“It is a real honor to be nominated and then selected to receive the 2022 CPHS Research Award. Independent research enriches the educational experience and fosters the development of critical thinking skills, as well as communication skills. I am passionate about creating research opportunities for students interested in this type of educational experience, and I very much appreciate the College’s recognition of my efforts in this area,” Thompson shared.
“Dorothea has been a wonderful resource to students and faculty alike. She fosters collaboration as she utilizes her background and expertise to provide invaluable guidance on research projects as well as a unique educational perspective in the classroom. She is very deserving of this award,” Michael L. Adams (’96 PharmD, PhD), dean of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, remarked.