Thomas's work involves experimental and computational plasma physics, specifically in the areas of dusty plasmas and the flow of highly magnetized plasmas. He is currently the director of Auburn University's Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory, a multi-user facility for the study of highly-magnetized dusty plasmas.[5]
Upon graduation, Thomas began working as an assistant professor at Fisk University until 1999.[7] He later returned to Auburn and joined the physics department, where he was promoted to associate professor in 2002 and then full professor in 2007. In 2012, Thomas became the Lawrence C. Wit Professor at the College of Science and Mathematics, and in 2015, the Charles W. Barkley Endowed Professor in the Department of Physics. In 2017, Thomas was promoted to Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies and relinquished his role as Lawrence C. Wit Professor.[1][8]
Scientific contributions
Thomas studies multiple aspects of plasma physics, including wave-particle interactions in plasma-phase materials and the effects of microgravity upon dusty plasmas.[9]
In 2009, Thomas led the development of the Magnetized Dusty Plasma Experiment (MDPX),[13] a US$2.1 million superconducting magnet laboratory funded by Auburn University and the NSF.[14][15] The experiment was designed as part of a multi-user collaborative facility for the study of dusty plasmas (i.e. the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory) and was completed in May 2014.[16] Thomas then began operation of the facility as its director, together with his colleague Uwe Konopka.[17]