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Dr. Dave Thomas

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I started teaching at Lyon College in August 1999. I routinely teach Principles of Biology (BIO110), Biomedical Terminology (BIO205), Speleology (BIO345), Microbiology (BIO350), and Physical Science (SCI100). I have also taught a variety of other classes as needed by the college. My research interests concern organisms that live in extreme environments. From 2007-2020, most of my research was on the macro- and microbiology of Ozark caves. Currently, I am working on a new project to examine atmospheric microbiology using mid- and high-power model rockets.

 Typical Class Schedules

Fall Semesters

BIO110 Principles of Biology I

BIO205 Biomedical Terminology

Spring Semesters

BIO101 Short Topics

BIO345 Speleology 

BIO350 Microbiology

SCI100 Physical Science

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Summer Terms

BIO101 Short Topics

BIO205 Biomedical Terminology

My Latest Research

LADCAP is an instrument for sampling atmospheric microbes currently in development. This is a presentation from the National Association of Rocketry Convention in January 2021.

Major microbial phyla from five Ozark caves.

In our 2017 article, "16S rRNA Gene-Based Metagenomic Analysis of Ozark Cave Bacteria," we found that the abundance of major bacterial phyla differed between five Ozark caves. We would like to know the major influences on cave microbial diversity.

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