Jennifer Thomas

Jennifer Thomas, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at San Diego State University within the College of Sciences. She serves as a Graduate Advisor and Masters Program Advisor, actively mentoring numerous students in research related to developmental neurotoxicology and interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Iowa, 1995

Dr. Thomas's research centers on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), with a strong emphasis on the neurobiological and behavioral consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Her work explores the potential of nutritional interventions, particularly choline supplementation, to mitigate the adverse effects of developmental alcohol exposure. She also investigates the impact of co-exposures to substances like THC, nicotine, and cannabis, especially through modern delivery methods such as e-cigarettes. Her research spans molecular, cellular, and behavioral levels, utilizing rodent models and clinical studies with children.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent trend in exploring the mechanisms of FASD, focusing on synaptic plasticity, circadian rhythms, sleep disturbances, motor control deficits, and neuroimmune alterations. A significant portion of her work is dedicated to evaluating choline as a therapeutic intervention across various domains of function.

Scientific Presentations and Leadership:

• Regularly presents at major conferences including the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA), International Society on Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ISBRA), and Society for Neuroscience.
• Organized symposia, such as 'Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: From Pathology to Treatment' at ISBRA 2018.

Dr. Thomas is a prolific mentor, having advised over 50 students on their theses, research projects, and independent studies, with a clear thematic focus on FASD, choline, cannabinoids, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. She has secured substantial grant funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program to support her research on the effects of nicotine and cannabis on brain development.

Research Labs & Teams:

She leads a robust research laboratory at SDSU that investigates the behavioral teratology of prenatal drug exposure. Her team employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining behavioral testing, molecular biology, and neuroanatomy to understand the long-term consequences of developmental exposures and to develop effective interventions.