Edward Thomas, PhD

Edward Thomas, PhD

  • Dean
  • Professor of Physics
  • Director, Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory
  • Physics
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    • thomaed@auburn.edu
    246 Sciences Center Classroom
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    https://aub.ie/mprl

    Dr. Edward Thomas Jr. is originally from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. After graduating from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1985, he earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from the Florida Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in physics from Auburn University.

    After completing his Ph.D. in 1996, he became an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. In January 2000, Dr. Thomas returned to Auburn University as a faculty member.

    Dr. Thomas began his research career with experimental studies of edge particle transport in fusion plasmas. His work has expanded to include experimental and computational investigations of dusty plasmas, strongly magnetized plasmas and laboratory simulations of the space environment.

    He is an elected member of the International Union of Radio Science, Commission H; a fellow of the American Physical Society; and a fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists. He has served on numerous advisory committees for the American Physical Society, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, National Academies and European Space Agency. From 2021 to 2025, he served in the leadership line of the APS Division of Plasma Physics, including vice chair, chair-elect, chair and past chair.

    From August 2017 to August 2021, he served as associate dean for research and graduate studies in Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics. From August 2021 to February 2023, he served as interim dean of COSAM. In March 2023, he began serving as dean of COSAM.

    Education

    • PhD Physics Auburn University 1996

    • MS Physics Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1993

    • BS Physics Florida Institute of Technology 1989

    Professional Experience

    • Dean, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, 2023-present
    • Interim Dean, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, 2021-2023
    • Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, 2017-2021
    • Professor, Auburn University, 2007-present
    • Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor, Auburn University, 2015-2020
    • Lawrence C. Wit Professor, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, 2012-2017
    • Associate Professor, Auburn University, 2002-2007
    • Assistant Professor, Auburn University, 2000-2002
    • Assistant Professor, Fisk University, 1996-1999
    • Research Assistant, Fusion Research Laboratory, Auburn University, 1993-1996
    • Research Assistant, Plasma Fusion Center, Alcator C-Mod, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1989-1993

    Innovation

    The central focus of my research group is the study of fundamental processes of particle, wave and energy transport in laboratory plasmas, with applications to industrial, space and fusion plasmas.

    Over the course of almost three decades, my students and I have studied a variety of problems related to a fundamental question: What are the transport properties of flowing plasmas in the presence or absence of magnetic fields?

    My laboratory, the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory, uses a variety of tabletop-scale plasma experiments, from the 2-meter-long ALEXIS magnetized plasma column to a number of dusty plasma experiments, to study transport processes in magnetized and unmagnetized plasmas using both in-situ and optical diagnostic tools.

    The centerpiece of the laboratory is the 4-meter-tall, multi-configuration, multi-user Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment device. MDPX is a one-of-a-kind research platform in the basic plasma physics research community that can apply magnetic fields of up to 4 Tesla to a low-temperature plasma, opening up a nearly unexplored region of laboratory plasma studies.

    The MPRL has been supported by a DOE Plasma Science Facility award from 2017 to 2026 and is transitioning to an NSF Physics award for user operations from 2025 to 2029. The MPRL has also received extramural funding from the NSF EPSCoR program, NASA and private companies. Since 1998, the group has generated more than $20 million in extramural funding.

    As of fall 2025, the group has produced more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, delivered more than 100 invited presentations at conferences and colloquia, and made more than 350 contributed conference presentations.

    Honors and Awards

    • StarDust Award, International Dusty Plasma Community, 2025
    • Outstanding Colleague of the Harrison College of Pharmacy, 2024
    • SGA Outstanding Faculty Member, Graduate School, 2020
    • Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor, 2015-2020
    • Inaugural Lawrence C. Wit Professor, College of Sciences and Mathematics, 2012-2017
    • Fellow, American Physical Society, 2015
    • Most Outstanding Professor Award, Auburn University Society of Physics Students, spring 2014
    • Dean’s Research Award, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, spring 2013
    • Professional Improvement Leave, Auburn University, spring 2013
    • Fellow, Alabama Academy of Sciences, 2012
    • Fellow, National Society of Black Physicists, 2011
    • Member, International Union of Radio Science, Commission H, 2004
    • Outstanding Academic Advisor, College of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, 2003
    • Outstanding Dissertation Award, National Society of Black Physicists, 1998
    • Outstanding Graduate Research Award, Department of Physics, Auburn University, 1996
    • Alabama / Department of Energy EPSCoR Traineeship, 1994
    • AT&T Bell Laboratories Corporate Research Fellowship Program, 1989