Andrew F. Thompson

Andrew F. Thompson is the John S. and Sherry Chen Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He serves as Director of the Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science and Executive Officer for Environmental Science. Thompson holds a B.S. from Dartmouth College (2000), C.A.S. and M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge (2001–2002), and a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (2006). His academic roles include tenure as Assistant Professor (2011–2017), Professor (2017–2024), and Chen Professor (2024–present). He leads the Oceans & Cryosphere, Theory & Observations (OCTO) Group, which investigates ocean dynamics, climate interactions, and polar processes. Key research focuses include the Southern Ocean, Antarctic Circumpolar Current, and submesoscale dynamics. Thompson teaches courses such as Earth's Oceans and Polar Oceanography, emphasizing observational and numerical methods. His work integrates field observations, modeling, and theory to understand oceanic transport of heat, chemicals, and biology.

Research projects like ChinStrAP explore Antarctic Peninsula stratification and Drake Passage dynamics using gliders and remote sensing. Thompson’s group emphasizes inclusivity and interdisciplinary training for early-career scientists. Current affiliations include the Linde+Robinson Laboratory and collaboration with institutions like Palmer Station. No specific awards are listed, though his roles suggest significant scholarly contributions.