Gregory B. Thompson

Dr. Gregory B. Thompson is a Distinguished University Research Professor in the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at The University of Alabama, College of Engineering. He serves as Executive Director of the Alabama Materials Institute and Director of the Central Analytical Facility, demonstrating significant leadership in materials research and infrastructure. He has been a faculty member since 2003, achieving tenure in 2008 and full professorship in 2012.

• Ph.D., Materials Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, 2003
• M.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Ohio State University, 1998
• B.S., Physics, Brigham Young University, 1996

Dr. Thompson’s research focuses on understanding the interplay between material structure, phase transformations, and mechanical properties. He specializes in advanced characterization techniques, particularly atom probe tomography and electron microscopy, to study nanocrystalline metals, ceramics, shape memory alloys, and thin films. His work has significant implications for high-temperature materials, aerospace applications, and materials processing.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in utilizing atom probe tomography for nanoscale solute mapping, grain boundary segregation, and phase stability analysis in advanced metallic and ceramic systems. His research spans fundamental thermodynamics of phase transformations to applied mechanical behavior under extreme conditions, particularly in ultra-high temperature ceramics and sputter-deposited films.

Dr. Thompson has received numerous honors for his scholarly and leadership contributions:

• Fellow, International Field Emission Society
• Brimacombe Medalist, TMS (2017)
• University Distinguished Research Professor (2018)
• Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award (2014)
• T. Morris Hackney Leadership Award (2018)
• NSF CAREER Award (2005)

He has secured over $12 million in research funding from NSF, ARO, ARL, ONR, AFOSR, DOE, NASA, and industrial partners. Dr. Thompson has mentored at least 29 doctoral students to graduation and numerous master's students. His leadership includes directing the interdisciplinary doctoral program in materials science, where enrollment quadrupled under his tenure, and organizing major international conferences such as the 53rd International Field Emission Symposium.

Dr. Thompson leads the Thompson Research Group, which operates within the Central Analytical Facility and collaborates extensively with national laboratories including Sandia, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Dynetics. The group utilizes state-of-the-art instrumentation for in situ mechanical and thermal testing in electron microscopes and advanced atom probe systems.