Ward H Thompson

Ward H. Thompson is the Richard S. Givens Chair in Chemistry at the University of Kansas's Department of Chemistry. His research focuses on theoretical chemical dynamics in liquids and nanostructured materials, including molecular dynamics simulations of water, silica interfaces, and catalytic systems. He holds a B.S. from Oklahoma State University (1991), a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley (1996), and completed postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado (1997-2000).

• Education:
  • B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1991
  • Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1996
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado, 1997-2000

His research interests include theoretical physical chemistry, chemical dynamics, vibrational spectroscopy, solvation effects, and catalysis. He develops computational methods to study confined liquids, electrolytes, and reaction mechanisms. Key projects involve fluctuation theory for dynamics, nanostructured porous materials, and catalyst design.

Notable awards include the Sutton Family Research Impact Award in 2021, 2023, and 2024. His work bridges theory and experiment, often collaborating with experimentalists to advance catalysis and materials science.

He leads the Thompson Research Group, which focuses on simulating molecular-level phenomena in complex environments. Recent studies include proton transport mechanisms, CO₂-expanded electrolytes, and hydrated electron reactivity.