Deborah I Thompson

Deborah I Thompson, PhD, RD, is a Professor in Pediatrics-Nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine and a Research Nutritionist with the USDA-ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center. She holds affiliations with the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor Diabetes Research Center, and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. Her research focuses on obesity and diabetes prevention through digital health interventions, with expertise in behavioral theory and qualitative methods.

Education:

• PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, University of New Orleans (1999)
• MS in Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1984)
• BS in Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1982)

Her research interests include behavioral nutrition, technology-driven interventions, and health disparities. Notable awards include the USDA-ARS Senior Research Scientist of the Year (2020) and Baylor’s Research Mentorship Award (2018).

Grants & Funding: Active projects include NIH-funded studies on social media games for older adults, rural adolescent health interventions, and gamified cooking programs for low-income families. Total funding exceeds $9 million across multiple NIH and USDA grants.

Dr. Thompson leads the Thompson Lab, which collaborates with communities to design interventions addressing obesity and related diseases. The lab focuses on co-design approaches, qualitative research, and leveraging digital media for behavior change.