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Dr. Jeff Thompson
| Affiliation: | Faculty |
| Title: | Associate Professor, Molecular Geneticist |
| Office: | 413 Talbot Hall |
| Email: |
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| Phone: |
740-587-5581
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| Fax: | 740-587-5634 |
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from The University of California, 1994
B.A. in Biology from Kalamazoo College, 1988
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Academic Positions
Associate Professor, Department of Biology at Denison University, 2009- present
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at Denison University, 2003 - 2009
Assistant Professor, Department of Biology at Georgian Court College, Lakewood, NJ, 1998-2003
Adjunct Instructor, Science Division at Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD, 1997-1998
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 1994-1998
Teaching
BIOL 150 - Introduction to the Science of Biology
BIOL 201 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOL 309 - Computational Biology
BIOL 325 - Genetics
BIOL 350 - Genomics
Research
My research interests revolve around the manner in which DNA is structurally and functionally organized within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Specifically, my lab studies histones, a family of highly conserved proteins that interact with DNA and other proteins to form material called chromatin. Chromatin can be arranged in a variety of structural conformations, influenced in part by numerous post-translational modifications to the histones, which has implications for DNA accessibility and functionality. We utilize genetic and molecular techniques to study the ways in which histones influence chromatin structure and function in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We are currently working on a series of projects to gain insight into the roles that specific histone modifications play in the processes by which DNA damage, caused by environmental factors such as ultraviolet radiation, is detected and repair.
Undergraduate research students play an integral role in my laboratory. Ranging from single summer experiences to multi-year efforts culminating in senior/honors research projects, student researchers are active participants in pursuing the questions that my lab is investigating. Students who make substantial contributions to our research have the opportunity to present their work at professional conferences and to be co-authors on published papers. Anyone interested in pursuing research in my lab should contact me early in the fall semester prior to the year in which they are interested in doing research to discuss potential opportunities.
Student Lab Members (see CV [pdf] for project titles)
Current lab members:
Arron Cole (since Fall 2010)
Jono Turchetta (since Fall 2012)
Dora Vines (since Summer 2012)
Past lab members:
Tom Snee (Summer 2012)
Anna Boudoures (Summer 2010-Spring 2012)
Jacob Pfeil (Summer 2010, Summer 2011-Spring 2012)
John Snee (Summer 2010)
Alyssa Rossodivita (Summer 2008-Spring 2010)
Megan Ansbro (Summer 2008-Spring 2009)
Jon Mecoli (Summer 2007-Spring 2009)
Ariel Lee (Summer 2007-Spring 2008)
Tasha Strande (Summer 2007-Spring 2008)
Ashley Albrecht (Summer 2006-Spring 2007)
Maggie Evans (Summer 2006-Spring 2007)
Andrew Keller (Summer 2005-Spring 2006)
Arzu Arat (Summer 2005)
Lindsey Bostelman (Summer 2004-Spring 2005)
Katie McHugh (Summer 2004-Spring 2005)
Leigh Stone (Summer 2004-Spring 2005)
Publications
(principal investigator in regard to publications below; see resume for complete publication list)
* indicates undergraduate student co-author
Evans ME*, Bostelman LJ*, Albrecht AM*, Keller AM*, Strande NT*, and JS Thompson. 2008. UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that alter specific K79 methylation states genetically act through distinct DNA repair pathways.
Current Genetics. no. 53 p. 259-274
View online.
Bostelman LJ*, Keller AM*, Albrecht AM*, Arat A*, and JS Thompson. 2007. Methylation of histone H3 lysine-79 by Dot1p plays multiple roles in the response to UV damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
DNA Repair. v. 6 no. p. 383-395
View online.
Smith PH and JS Thompson. 2003. Has polyploidy shaped the evolution of the eukaryotic genome? A re-examination of Ohno's genome duplication hypothesis .
Bios. v. 74 no. p. 110-117
View online.
Thompson JS, Snow ML, Giles S*, McPherson LE*, and M Grunstein. 2003. Identification of a functional domain within the essential core of histone H3 that is required for telomeric and HM silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Genetics . v. 163 no. p. 447-452
View online.
Funding
National Institutes of Health R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award (1R15GM093849-01), 2010-2013; $317,852
Great Lakes Colleges Association New Directions Grant, 2010 (co-written with Jessen Havill); $3,765
Denison University Research Foundation Grant, 2010; $5,506
Denison University Research Foundation Grant, 2009; $1,474
Denison University Research Foundation Grant, 2006; $6,329
Service at Denison
Finance Committee (vice-chair, since 2012)
Faculty Development Committee (since 2010, chair since 2012)
Phi Beta Kappa, President of Theta of Ohio Chapter (since 2007)
Sigma Xi Chapter member (since 2007)
Anderson Scholarship Selection Committee (2007-2008, 2010)
Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee (2008-2009)
Denison Scientific Association co-organizer (2008-2009)
Board of Academic Integrity (2007-2009)
Campus Affairs Council (2007-2009)
Board of Trustees Enrollment Committee (2005-2007)
Professional Memberships
Genomics Education Partnership (since 2007)
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (since 2007)
Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society (since 1999)
Genetics Society of America (since 1998)
Phi Beta Kappa (since 1988)
Professional Memberships
Genomics Education Partnership (since 2007)
Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (since 2007)
Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society (since 1999)
Genetics Society of America (since 1998)
Phi Beta Kappa (since 1988)
