Lucien T. “Tres” Thompson

Neuroscience (NSC) at UT Dallas

Tres Thompson portrait

Founder of the Neuroscience Program, and Neuroscience Program Head (2000-2014), in the School of Behavioral & Brain Sciences (BBS) at UT Dallas. Associate Professor of Cognition & Neuroscience since 1997. Student enrollment in the neurosciences under my guidance rose from 21 in 1997 to over 750 by 2014 here at UTD.

Previously I was on the faculty in Cell, Molecular & Structural Biology at Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, 1990-1997.

With the conclusion of our most recent faculty searches, there are 11 active extramurally-funded Systems Neuroscience laboratories in BBS. These PIs actively investigate questions related to neural plasticity, learning & memory, stress, aging, neural interfaces, addiction, schizophrenia, chronic and acute pain, bioengineering, and sensory processing. With our recent (Feb 2016) move to the new Biosciences building (BSB), another wave of expansion of PIs is planned, with additional NSC labs expected to be added at a rate of 1-2 per year.

Education

Postdoctoral Training

Cellular Neuroscience, 1988-1990
Northwestern Univ. Medical School
Chicago, IL
Mentor: John F. Disterhoft, PhD

Doctorate (PhD)

Neuroscience, 1988
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Mentor: Phillip J. Best, PhD

Masters (MA)

Experimental Psychology, 1983
California State University
San Bernardion, CA
Mentor: Fred Newton, PhD

Bachelors (BS)

Psychology/Biology, 1981
California State College
San Bernardino, CA
Mentor: Stuart Ellins, PhD

Military

veteran, USAF (avionics)

High School

Bellevue Senior High
Bellevue, NE
All-state Debate champion

Scouts

Eagle Scout

Home

Sarasota, FL

Family

wife Rosa
daughter Lucy
son John
parents Tommy & Barbara, USAF ret.
brother Randy, pilot for Delta
+ sundry cousins & nephews