Edward Thomas

Edward Thomas, Jr., Ph.D., earned his B.S. in physics at Florida Tech, an M.S. in physics at MIT, and Ph.D. in physics from Auburn University. He began his academic career at Fisk University as an assistant professor before re-joining Auburn as a faculty member. Thomas is currently a professor of physics and since March, 2023, serves as dean of the College of Sciences and Mathematics at Auburn University. He previously served as interim dean, from August 2021 to April 2023, and as associate dean for research and graduate studies from August 2017 to August 2021.

Thomas began his research career studying the transport of impurity species at the edges of magnetic fusion plasmas. Over the years, his work has shifted to more fundamental studies of the transport of waves, particles, and energy in a variety of laboratory and space plasma environments. His group conducts experimental and computational research on dusty (complex) plasmas, strongly magnetized plasmas, laboratory studies of the space environment, and the development of in-situ and optical plasma diagnostics. Thomas and his team have published over 100 scientific articles and delivered over 400 invited and contributed presentations at scientific meetings. Their work is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), and NASA. He is an elected member of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) – Commission H, and a Fellow of the American Physical Society and the National Society of Black Physicists. He has served as a member of numerous advisory committees for the APS, NSF, DOE, the National Academies, the European Space Agency, and a wide variety of US and international universities. From 2023 - 2024, Thomas served as chair of the APS Division of Plasma Physics.