Education

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Microbiology
Howard University
2006

Certificate

Advanced Bacterial Genetics
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
2004

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Nutritional Sciences
Howard University
2000

Expertise

Microbiology, Bacterial Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Bacteriology, Bacterial Pathogenesis

Academics

Biology of Pathogens II

Microbiology Seminar (and Journal Club)

Special Topics in Microbiology

Research in Microbiology

Research

Specialty

Bacterial Gene Regulation, RNA Biology, Bacteria-Host Interactions, and Cell Biology

Funding

Current

Grant Number: 1R35GM152163

Title: Epitranscriptomic and post-transcriptional regulation of the RNome in gram negative and firmicute bacteria

Funding Agency:  National Institutes of General Medical Sciences - National Institutes of Health (NIGMS-NIH)

Term: 2024-2029

Amount ~ $2,000,000

Prior Support

National Science Foundation (NSF)

National Institutes of General Medical Sciences - National Institutes of Health (NIGMS-NIH)

Swedish Research Foundation

Howard University Medical Alumni Association (HUMAA)

Group Information

Current Members

Ph.D. Student Trainees of the Thompson Lab

Taylor Lofton (Microbiology)

Aicha Kaba (Microbiology)

Undergraduate Student Trainees of the Thompson Lab

Makenna Davis (Senior Chemistry major and Karsh STEM Scholar)

Olivia McGlaughlin (Senior Biology major)

Sophie Lee (Junior Biology major and Karsh STEM Scholar)

Cai Malone (Junior Chemical Engineering major and Karsh STEM Scholar)

Shaniah Smith (Junior Computer Science major)

Ijenna Adibe (Junior Biology major)

Alana Johnson (Junior Biology major and Karsh STEM Scholar)

Kai Avilez (Junior Biology major)

Camille Wimberly (Sophomore Biology major and Karsh STEM Scholar)

Past Members

Ph.D. Alumni of The Thompson Lab

Laricca London, Ph.D. 

Mohammed Asiri, Ph.D.

Amer Al Ali, Ph.D.

Joseph I Aubee, Ph.D. 

Jalisa Nurse, Ph.D. 

Jamilah Alsulami, Ph.D.

Undergraduate Alumni of The Thompson Lab

Reni Olu, M.D. (Biology and Howard University College of Medicine Alumnus)

Berencia Fore (Biology Alumnus)

Kessler Hurd (Biology Alumnus)

Abbigale Perkins (Biology Alumnus)

Briana Hernandez (Biology Alumnus)

Adia Gomes (Biology / Psychology Alumnus)

Brittany Smith (Biology Alumnus)

Ilahi Creary-Miller (Biology Alumnus)

Bryce Collier (Political Science Alumnus)

Devante Kerr (Biology and Karsh STEM Alumnus - Goldwater Scholar) 

Katelyn Robertson (Biology and Karsh STEM Alumnus - Goldwater Scholar) 

Kalaila Pias, M.D. (Biology and Howard University College of Medicine B.S. / M.D. Alumnus)

Danae Byer (Biology Alumnus and Howard University College of Medicine Alumnus)

Sherese Brown (Biology Alumnus)

Alexandria Adigun (Biology and Karsh STEM Alumnus - Goldwater Scholar) 

Olufolakemi Olusanya (Biology and Karsh STEM Alumnus - 1st Annual Rising Black Scholar Undergraduate Level Awardee from Cell Press) 

Ayotimofe Idowu (Biology and Karsh STEM Scholars Alumnus)

Selama Tesfamariam (Biology and Karsh STEM Scholars Alumnus) - 2024

Olivia Sconyers (Biology and Karsh STEM Scholars Alumnus) - 2024

Deja Gaines (Biology Alumnus) - 2024

Elise Turner (Biology Alumnus) - 2024

Rehannon Caporale Harney (Psychology Alumnus) - 2024

Kendal Pully (Biology Alumnus) - 2025

Ananya Hota (Biology and Karsh STEM Scholars Alumnus - Goldwater Scholar Fulbright Scholar) - 2025

Kaie Hall (Chemical Engineering Alumnus) - 2025

Jaja Baldeh (Biology Alumnus) - 2025 

Featured News

🖊️ National Press

• Interviewed by hometown radio station (Rochester, NY) WDKX 103.9. This interview described my origin story in STEM and an overview of my work at Howard University (July 10, 2025)

  https://open.spotify.com/episode/2MVJQoVhuLm6UpNjQ5XbuC?si=7GVdt7kiRguX70KC-B-ytw&nd=1&dlsi=717c8164867c4f66

• STAT+ First Opinion - Op-Ed - “HBCUSs can help create a 21st – century bioeconomy and the talent pipeline it requires”.

  Link:  HBCUs Can Build a 21st-Century Biotech Job Pipeline,” - 6/10/2025

• "Howard University Likely to Earn Highest Research Status, Only HBCU to Do So"
  - Washington Post, November 12, 2024
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/11/12/howard-university-r1-research-classification/

🏛️ University Press & Multimedia

• "At Howard, Research is Reimagined" — Howard University R1 Video (2025)
• "Howard University Honors Faculty at Inaugural Research and Leadership Awards"
  - The Dig at Howard University, 2025 – Coverage of the Up-and-Coming Researcher of the Year Award presented to Dr. Karl Thompson
  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-honors-faculty-inaugural-research-and-leadership-awards
• "Dr. Karl Thompson’s Quest for Scientific Discovery Includes Ushering in the Next Generation of Scientists"
  The Dig at Howard University, 2025
  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/dr-karl-thompsons-quest-scientific-discovery-includes-ushering-next-generation-scientists
• "FIGHTING DISEASE: Research at Howard aims to stop millions of deaths due to infectious diseases" – by Amber Dodd
  Howard University Magazine, Winter/Spring 2025 Edition
  https://magazine.howard.edu/sites/magazine.howard.edu/files/2025-03/Howard%20Magazine%20Winter%20Spring%202025%20for%20Download_d.pdf

• “From Service to Science: Amgen Scholar’s Journey Highlights Howard University’s Expanding Research Pipeline” – The Dig at Howard University (2025)

  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/service-science-amgen-scholars-journey-highlights-howard-universitys-expanding-research-pipeline

🎓 Trainee Spotlights

• Alexandria Adigun featured in The Dig at Howard University — "Howard University Student Alexandria Adigun Awarded Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for STEM" (2020) by Misha Cornelius, highlighting her selection for the Goldwater Scholarship.

  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-student-alexandria-adigun-awarded-prestigious-goldwater-scholarship-stem

• Olufolakemi Olusanya featured in The Dig at Howard University — "Howard University Senior Receives Inaugural Rising Black Scientist Award" (2021) by Misha Cornelius, highlighting her selection for the inuagural Rising Black Scientist Award by Cell Press. 

  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-university-senior-receives-inaugural-rising-black-scientist-award

  https://www.cell.com/diversity/awards/previous

  https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(21)00074-X

• Kaie Hall featured in The Dig at Howard University — "Tackling Illness at the Cellular Level" (2025) by Cedric Mobley, highlighting his research trajectory under the mentorship of Dr. Karl Thompson
  https://thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/howard-graduating-senior-kaie-hall-tackling-illness-cellular-level
• Sophie Lee featured in Howard Magazine — "Creating Scientific Citizens" (2025) by Amber D. Dodd and Tiffani Alexander: A discussion on the Thompson Lab’s long-term mentorship model and Sophie’s research journey
  https://magazine.howard.edu/sites/magazine.howard.edu/files/2025-03/Howard%20Magazine%20Winter%20Spring%202025%20for%20Download_d.pdf