Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson is a University Professor and Ray R. Irani Chair in Chemistry at the University of Southern California. He holds joint appointments in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science. His research focuses on organic optoelectronic devices, materials science, nanoscience, and photophysics, with applications in solar energy conversion, light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and nanoscale sensors. Thompson leads the Center for Awesome Materials as Director and co-directs the Center for Energy Nanoscience Technologies.

Education: PhD in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology (1985), BS from UC Berkeley (1980), followed by postdoctoral training at Oxford University. He joined USC from Princeton University, where he was on the tenure track from 1987–1995.

Research Interests: Thompson’s work extends molecular chemistry control to solid-state materials. Key areas include molecular/polymeric materials for optical studies, nanoscale sensors, bioadhesives, and energy-related technologies like OLEDs and solar cells. His lab develops novel light-emitting materials, nanowire sensors, and energy-efficient organic photovoltaic systems.

Publications: Thompson has published extensively on organic electronics, with recent work emphasizing Cu(I) and Pt-based luminescent materials, symmetry-breaking charge transfer, and high-efficiency photovoltaic systems. His 2019 Science paper on Cu(I) emitter efficiency received significant attention.

Awards: Elected to the National Academy of Engineering (2020), recipient of the IEEE Nichizawa Medal (2017), and multiple ACS awards. His contributions span innovation in organic light-emitting devices and optoelectronic materials.

Labs & Teams: Directs the Center for Awesome Materials and co-leads the Center for Energy Nanoscience Technologies. Collaborates widely on projects involving nanomaterials, energy conversion, and bio-inspired sensors.