Michael J. Thomson
Current Title:
Appointment:
Physical Address:
Email Address:
Professor and HM Beachell Rice Chair
60% Research, 30% Teaching, 10% Service
343C Heep Center, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843-2474
m.thomson@tamu.edu
Education:
2002 Ph.D. Plant Breeding, Cornell University
1997 B.A. Biology and English (cum laude), Baylor University
Experience:
2015-present:
2013-2015:
2009-2013:
2005-2008:
2003-2005:
2002-2003:
Professor and HM Beachell Rice Chair, Texas A&M University
Senior Scientist, Molecular Genetics, and Head of Genotyping Services Lab, IRRI, Philippines
Scientist, Molecular Genetics and Marker Applications, IRRI, Philippines
Post-doctoral Research with Dr. Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI, Philippines
NSF International Research Fellow, Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology
Post-doctoral Research with Dr. Susan McCouch, Cornell University
Teaching Focus:
I will be teaching several courses from my areas of expertise (plant genomics, molecular breeding and
international agriculture), in addition to advising undergraduate and graduate students.
Research Focus:
My research expertise is in plant molecular genetics with an emphasis in rice genetics and genomics,
molecular breeding, and international agriculture. My primary interest is to help bridge the gap between
exploring genetic diversity held in crop genebanks with practical use in plant breeding programs to accelerate
rice improvement.
Research Accomplishments:
• Total refereed journal publications – 30, conference abstracts – 56, book chapters – 5
• 26 ISI-cited papers with a total of 1,392 Web of Science citations (H-index = 16)
• Set up high-throughput SNP genotyping facility at the Genotyping Services Lab at IRRI
• Deployed 384-SNP and 6K SNP sets at IRRI for DNA fingerprinting, QTL mapping and MAS
• Supervised the genotyping of 26,500 DNA samples leading to 64 million SNP data points
• Validated gene-based SNP markers at cloned genes for key traits for rice breeding
• Characterized the Saltol QTL for salinity tolerance and transferred into multiple varieties
• Explored beneficial QTLs introgressed from Orzya rufipogon in an elite US rice background
Selected Publications:
Shah SM, Arif M, Aslam K, Shabir G, Thomson MJ (2015) Genetic diversity analysis of Pakistan rice (Oryza
sativa) germplasm using multiplexed single nucleotide polymorphism markers. Genet. Resour. Crop
Evol. (in press) doi:10.1007/s10722-015-0304-9
Pariasca-Tanaka J, Lorieux M, He C, McCouch S, Thomson MJ, Wissuwa M (2015) Development of a SNP
genotyping panel for detecting polymorphisms in Oryza glaberrima/O. sativa interspecific crosses.
Euphytica 201: 67-78.
Thomson MJ (2014) High-throughput SNP genotyping to accelerate crop improvement. Plant Breeding
Biotech. 2: 195-212.
Trijatmiko KR, Supriyanta, Prasetiyono J, Thomson MJ, Vera Cruz CM, Moeljopawiro S, Pereira A (2014)
Meta-analysis of quantitative trait loci for grain yield and component traits under reproductive-stage
drought stress in an upland rice population. Mol. Breeding 34: 283-295.
Baltazar MD, Ignacio JC, Thomson MJ, Ismail AM, Mendioro MS, Septiningsih EM (2014) QTL mapping for
tolerance of anaerobic germination from IR64 and the aus landrace Nanhi using SNP genotyping.
Euphytica 197: 251-260.
Bandillo N, Raghavan C, Muyco PA, Sevilla MAL, Lobina IT, Dilla-Ermita CJ, Tung CW, McCouch S,
Thomson M, Mauleon R, Singh RK, Gregorio G, Redoña E, Leung H (2013) Multi-parent Advanced
Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) populations in rice: progress and potential for genetics research and
breeding. Rice 6: 11.
Jagadish SVK, Septiningsih EM, Kohli A, Thomson MJ, Ye C, Redoña E, Kumar A, Gregorio GB, Wassmann
R, Ismail AM, Singh RK (2012) Genetic advances in adapting rice to a rapidly changing climate. J.
Agron. Crop Sci. 5: 360-373.
Ye C, Argayoso MA, Redoña ED, Sierra SN, Laza MA, Dilla CJ, Mo Y, Thomson MJ, Chin J, Delaviña CB,
Diaz GQ, Hernandez JE (2012) Mapping QTL for heat tolerance at flowering stage in rice using SNP
markers. Plant Breeding 131: 33-41.
Thomson MJ, Zhao K, Wright M, McNally KL, Rey J, Tung CW, Reynolds A, Scheffler B, Eizenga G, McClung
A, Kim H, Ismail AM, de Ocampo M, Mojica C, Reveche MY, Dilla-Ermita CJ, Mauleon R, Leung H,
Bustamante C, McCouch SR (2012) High-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping for
breeding applications in rice using the BeadXpress platform. Mol. Breeding 29: 875-886.
Thomson MJ, de Ocampo M, Egdane J, Rahman MA, Sajise AG, Adorada DL, Tumimbang-Raiz E, Blumwald
E, Seraj ZI, Singh RK, Gregorio GB, Ismail AM (2010) Characterizing the Saltol quantitative trait locus
for salinity tolerance in rice. Rice 3: 148-160.
Thomson MJ, Polato NR, Prasetiyono J, Trijatmiko KR, Silitonga TS, McCouch SR (2009) Genetic diversity of
isolated populations of Indonesian landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) collected in East Kalimantan on
the island of Borneo. Rice 2: 80-92.
Ismail AM, Heuer S, Thomson MJ, Wissuwa M (2007) Genetic and genomic approaches to develop rice
germplasm for problem soils. Plant Mol. Biol. 65: 547-570.
Thomson MJ, Septiningsih EM, Suwardjo F, Santoso TJ, Silitonga TS, McCouch SR (2007) Genetic diversity
analysis of traditional and improved Indonesian rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm using microsatellite
markers. Theor. Appl. Genet. 114: 559-568.
Thomson MJ, Edwards JD, Septiningsih EM, Harrington SE, McCouch SR (2006) Substitution mapping of
dth1.1, a flowering time quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with transgressive variation in rice,
reveals multiple sub-QTL. Genetics 172: 2501-2514.
Sweeney MT, Thomson MJ, Pfeil BE, McCouch SR (2006) Caught red-handed: Rc encodes a basic helixloop-helix protein conditioning red pericarp in rice. Plant Cell 18: 283-294.
Thomson MJ, Tai TH, McClung AM, Lai X-H, Hinga ME, Lobos KB, Xu Y, Martinez CP, McCouch SR (2003)
Mapping quantitative trait loci for yield, yield components and morphological traits in an advanced
backcross population between Oryza rufipogon and the Oryza sativa cultivar Jefferson. Theor. Appl.
Genet. 107: 479-493.
Professional Memberships, Leadership Roles and Honors:
• Member of the Editorial Board for Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2015-present
• Associate Editor for the Plant Breeding and Biotechnology journal, 2014-present
• Ad hoc reviewer for various journals, including PLoS ONE, BMC Genomics, BMC Plant Biology,
Genetics, Molecular Breeding, Euphytica, Crop Science, and Plant Breeding
• Member, American Society of Plant Biologists, 2011-present
• Member, Crop Science Society of America, 2006-present
• NSF International Research Fellowship, 2003-2005
• Mentor Recognition; Siemens Foundation, 2002-2003
• Gerard D. Mott Graduate Student Award, 2000
• Cornell Plant Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Research Assistantship, 1997-2001