Elizabeth Thompson

Elizabeth Thompson serves as Assistant Professor of Geology at The University of the South (Sewanee), holding a B.S. from the University of New Orleans and M.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on mineral physics under extreme planetary conditions.

Research Expertise: Combines ab initio theoretical calculations with high-pressure, high-temperature experiments to study hydrogen distribution in Earth's deep mantle. Her work employs diamond anvil cell technology and synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction to model planetary interior evolution.

Laboratory: Leads the Sewannee Under Pressure (SUP) research group, which actively involves undergraduate students in experimental mineral physics. The lab specializes in simulating extreme planetary conditions to analyze material properties relevant to geophysics and planetary science.

Teaching: Instructs core geology courses including Mineralogy (GEOL 221), Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL 320), Physical Geology (GEOL 121), and Geology of our Solar System (GEOL 236), integrating research methodologies into classroom learning.

Academic Service: Provides research mentorship for undergraduates through hands-on laboratory work, with documented involvement in student projects featured by Sewanee. Current grant details are not specified, but the lab maintains active experimental and computational research programs.