EDUCATION
Clemson University Clemson, SC
Ph.D. Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences (Health Physics) Expected: December 2009
University of South Florida St. Petersburg, FL
M.S. Marine Science 1987
Marshall University Huntington, WV
B.S. Chemistry 1983
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
A new PhD graduate with 20 years experience in nuclear, chemical, and environmental sciences. Demonstrated successes working on basic and applied research and development, remediation, laboratory and field characterization, and D&D projects. Demonstrated abilities to interact with clients, manage projects, and solve problems. Excellent communication and presentation skills.
INTERESTS
Health physics, environmental aspects of nuclear technologies, contaminant fate and transport, transport modeling, field studies of radiological or chemical contaminants, site remediation and monitored natural attenuation, radiochemistry, geochemistry, risk assessment, dose assessment, client relations, and project management.
EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant 2005 - Present
Environmental Health Physics, Clemson University, Anderson, SC
Conducting laboratory experiments to quantify upward plutonium mobility in plants motivated by Savannah River Site lysimeter data. Developing a knowledge base to support Pu transport models. Investigating national radiological lysimeter project data to estimate transport rates for performance assessments. Evaluating carbon nano-tubes for actinide sequestration in-situ in waste tanks. Studying the environmental transport, speciation, modeling, and risk assessment of contaminants.
Senior Radiological Engineer: Mound Gamma Laboratories 2002 - 2004
Enercon Services consulting at the CH2M Mound Closure Project, Miamisburg, OH
Managed Mound gamma spectrometry labs: developed labs into turnkey operation with 90% of results < 24 hour turnaround, trained staff, interfaced with clients, management, and regulators. Oversee facilities transition during site decontamination and demolition (D&D). Working with field specialists from Argonne National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory, implemented rapid detection of radionuclides in the field. Prepared documents to capture business for Enercon Services. Consulted regarding sampling plans, the merits of field actions, and limits of detection.
Senior Health Physics Engineer: Internal Dosimetry 2002 - 2002
EG&G Technical consulting at BWXT of Ohio, Miamisburg, OH
Assessed radiological intakes and completed180 Mound dose assessments. Using bioassay and work records, assessed dose using site methods, CINDY internal dosimetry code, and 10CFR835.
Radiochemist: FUSRAP Sites Data Quality Assessor 2001 - 2001
CDI Corporation consulting for SAIC, Oak Ridge, TN
Validated radiochemistry data quality from FUSRAP site investigations.
Senior Radiological Engineer: Pu Processing Facility Characterization 2000 - 2001
EG&G Technical consulting at BWXT of Ohio, Miamisburg, OH
Wrote a report characterizing the Mound Plutonium Processing Facility and its environmental footprint as part of a $25M D&D proposal. Investigated hazards by directing surveys, in-situ gamma, NDA, and lab tests. Presented findings to the EPA, Ohio EPA, and DOE. Described soil contamination and remediation criteria in Environmental Section of proposal. Edited proposal sections: Summary, Below Grade Removals, and Waste Management and Field Work.
Technical Director of Radiochemistry and Project Manager 1998 - 2000
Antech Ltd. Waltz Mill (Westinghouse Radiochemical Laboratory), Madison, PA
Managed Waltz Mill analytical resources for reactor D&D, removal and site remediation. Mentored management, scientists and technicians. Completed Westinghouse satellite site characterizations, monitoring, and closures. Authored marketing documents and responded to RFQ/RFPs.
Computer Sales Specialist Future Shop, Kennewick, WA 1997 - 1997
Sabbatical - World Travel 1995 - 1996
Senior Technical Specialist / Radiochemist 1989 - 1995
Battelle, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Applied Chemistry Laboratory, Richland, WA
Performed radio-analytical support with a high degree of client contact. Selected, developed and commissioned ~$1,000,000 worth of nuclear detection and computer control systems. Expert radiochemistry skills honed through many projects including high activity analyses, medical isotope production, reactor power dosimetry, Fast Flux Test Facility, etc. Interacted with staff scientists, visiting scientists, students, and DOE scholars to develop state of the art nuclear detection capabilities. Managed spectrometry systems in two buildings and six labs, supporting 30 users.
Research Technician IIi 1987 - 1989
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC
Studied metal biogeochemistry and the distribution of radionuclides in the environment. Commissioned a lab containing fluorimeter, FTIR, UV-Vis spectrometer, and ion chromatograph.
Research Assistant 1983 - 1987
Marine Sciences, The University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL
Conducted research and field studies to understand lanthanide element behavior in aquatic environs. Developed novel methods to determine lanthanide stability constants and characterized the adsorption and chemical scavenging of lanthanides in seawater by marine organisms.
PUBLICATIONS
Thompson, S. W., Molz, F. J., Fjeld, R. A., and D. I. Kaplan. Retardation and spatial distribution of plutonium in plants. (In Preparation) Environmental Science & Technology.
Thompson, S. W. and R. A. Fjeld. Simple model to estimate plant-facilitated plutonium transport in the shallow vadose zone. (In Preparation) Health Physics Journal.
Thompson, S. W., Molz, F. J., Fjeld, R. A., and D. I. Kaplan. 2009, Plutonium uptake velocity in Zea mays (corn) and implications for plant uptake of Pu in the root zone. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (Online http://www.springerlink.com/content/95451m6x63384vj8/) (In Press)
Byrne, R.H. and S.W. Thompson, 1997, Ferric Borate Formation in Aqueous Solution. Journal of Solution Chemistry V. 26, pp. 729-734.
Thompson, S. W., and R. H. Byrne. 1988, Indicator Ligands in Metal Complexation Studies: Role of 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol in europium carbonate equilibrium investigations. Analytical Chemistry V.60; pp 19-23.
Byrne, R. H., Robert-Baldo, G., Thompson, S. W. and C.-T. A. Chen. 1988, Seawater pH measurements: An at-sea comparison of spectrophotometric and potentiometric methods. Deep-Sea Research V. 35, pp. 1405-1410.
PRESENTATIONS
Molz, F. J., Demirkanli, D. I., Thompson, S. W., Fjeld, R. A., Kaplan, D. I. 2009 Reactive Plutonium Transport in the Vadose Zone: Interactions of Experiments, Soil Physics and Computer-Aided Thinking Soil Science Society of America National Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA
Thompson, S. W. 2009 Mobility of Plutonium in Plants. Clemson University, Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences Fall Seminar Lecture Series, Anderson, SC
Thompson, S. W., Fjeld, R. A., Molz, F. J.. Kaplan, D. I. 2009 Plutonium transport in plants: experimental determination of transport velocity in live plants and sorption to plant xylem. The 54th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Minneapolis, MN
Molz, F. J., Demirkanli, D. I., Thompson, S. W., Fjeld, R. A., Kaplan, D. I., and Powell, B. A. 2009 Plutonium transport in Savannah River Soil: The apparent importance of biochemistry. The 238th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Washington, DC
Thompson, S. W., Fjeld, R. A., Molz, F. J.. Kaplan, D. I. 2009 Plutonium uptake velocity in Zea mays (corn) and implications for plant uptake of Pu in the root zone. Methods in Analytical and Radiochemistry Conference VIII, Kona, HI
Thompson, S. W., and Fjeld, R. A. 2008 Cs and Sr retardation from long term lysimeter field studies. The 53rd Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Pittsburg, PA
Thompson, S. W., Fjeld, R. A., and Kaplan, D. I. 2007 Bridging the gap between field studies of radionuclide mobility and lab sorption data. The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA
Thompson, S.W. 1994 Radioanalytical determinations of Hanford tank wastes at the PNNL Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. The Northwest Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society. Anchorage, AK
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
Health Physics Society
American Chemical Society
American Geophysical Union
American Nuclear Society
(This résumé was posted on 28 October 2009.)
