Dr. Alison Thompson

Employment and Training

• Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, 2020-2027.

• Full Professor: tenured, Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, as of July 2009.

• Faculty of Science Killam Professor: Dalhousie University, 2012-2017.

• Associate Professor: tenured, Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 2006-2009.

• Assistant Professor: tenure-track, Department of Chemistry, Dalhousie University, 2001-2006.

• Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr. D. Dolphin, Department of Chemistry, UBC, 1997-2001.

• Post-Doctoral Fellow: Prof. A. Solladié-Cavallo, Ecole de Chimie, Strasbourg, France, 1996-1997.

• Ph.D. Chemistry: Sulfur Mediated Asymmetric and Catalytic Epoxidation and Aziridination – University of Sheffield, UK, 1993-1996.

• B.Sc. Chemistry (Honours), University of Leicester, UK, 1990-1993.

Selected Achievements and Activities

Honours

• Montréal Medal, Chemical Institute of Canada, 2021

• Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, 2020-2027

• Clara Benson Award, Canadian Society for Chemistry, 2020

• Science Atlantic Chemistry Speaker Tour Awardee, 2019/20

• Association of Atlantic Universities Anne Marie MacKinnon Educational Leadership Award, 2019

• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), 2018

• Association of Atlantic Universities Teaching Retreat Invitee, 2018

• Recipient of the 2018 Dalhousie Alumni Association Faculty Award of Excellence for Teaching.

• Recipient of the 2018 Dalhousie Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

• Senior Scientist, Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute: recognizing the role of pyrrole-based synthetic and medicinal chemistry in aspects of health research, 2013-.

• Faculty of Science Killam Professor 2012-2017: research prize to mark achievements, excellence and promise in science research, Dalhousie University.

• 2015 Chemistry Professor of the Year Award: selected by final year undergraduates at Dalhousie for achievements dedicated to teaching.

• 2014 Change One Thing Challenge Award: teaching methods prize, Dalhousie.

• Top 40 Under 40 National Short-list 2010/2011: program for Canada’s young leaders.

Selected Recent professional activities

• Canadian Journal of Chemistry: Co-Editor-in-Chief, 2024-2027

• Executive Board Member: Commonwealth Chemistry, 2023-2026, 2026-2029

• Technical/Scientific Program Chair: The Canadian Societies for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 2026 Conferences and Exhibition (x2026) in Toronto

• Canada Research Chairs Interdisciplinary Adjudication Committee Member: 2023-2026

• Program Director: NSERC CREATE Training Program in BioActivies, 2018-2024

• Vice-Chair, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility Action Committee: Science Atlantic, 2022-25

• Technical Program Committee Member (Canadian Society for Chemistry representative): Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry ABCChem) Morocco, 2022

• Guest Editor: Canadian Journal of Chemistry special issue for Dahousie’s 200th anniversary, 2018

• Chair: CSC Organic Division, 2017-2018

• Group Chair: NSERC Discovery Grant 1504 Chemistry Evaluation Group, 2017-2020

• Member: NSERC Committee on Discovery Research, 2017-2020

Selected community contributions

• Women in Research Collective (Caucus) at Dalhousie University Co-Chair (Interim): 2025-present

• Chair of the SuperNOVA Board of Advisors: not-for-profit science and engineering camps and workshops reaching >15,000 youth in-person annually: member 2003-2015, Chair of the Board since 2015, self-raised budget of $1.8M/year

• Rhodes Scholars Selection Committee Member: selects two Rhodes Scholars from the Maritimes 2017-.

• Halifax Support Group for People Who Stutter: Chair, 2004-present.

Recent professional EDIA and inclusive leadership training activities

• NSERC and SSHRC 2026-2028 Accessibility Plan Focus Group Member: 2025

• Transformative Pedagogies: Small Changes for Transformation 2024 Retreat, Dalhousie University – Topics included Epistemic Injustice and Oppression, Designing Anti-Colonial Science, Collaborative Online International Learning, Coursework Building Empathy, Increasing Accessibility of Learning through Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence

• Fostering Best Practice in Graduate Supervision, Dalhousie University, 2023: panelist and participant

• Organizational Inclusion Strategies Badge, Dalhousie University: 2023

• Inclusive Communications Analysis Badge, Dalhousie University: 2023

• Business Case for Diverse Teams Badge, Dalhousie University: 2023

• Executive Certificate in Academic Leadership, Dalhousie Faculty of Management, 2021– ten courses (Theories & Principles of Academic Leadership; Understanding & Leading Self; Strategic Decision Making; Innovation & Creativity; Collaboration & Leading Teams; Using Data in Decision Making; Intercultural Communication; Stakeholder Engagement; Financial Management; Leading Change in Complexity) plus an Action Leadership Project focused on emotional engagement across employees and students at higher education institutions

Selected presentations

• Ghana Chemical Society Annual Conference, Accra: 2026

• Canadian Societies for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Conferences and Exhibition: 2026

• University College London, UK: 2025

• Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Ottawa: 2025

• Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Ottawa: Publishing in Chemistry, 2025, invited speaker

• Commonwealth Chemistry Congress, South Africa: Publishing in the Commonwealth, 2025, invited speaker

• University of Leicester Chemistry Centenary, UK: 2025, invited speaker

• Queen Mary University of London, UK: 2025

• Boron in the Americas (BORAM), Los Angeles, US: 2024 invited conference speaker

• University of Nottingham, UK: 2024

• Kanpur University, India: 2024, invited conference speaker

• University of Leicester, UK: 2024

• Canadian Organic Invitational (CORGI) seminar series: online, January 2023, invited speaker

• Atlantic Basin Conference on Chemistry (ABCChem): Morocco, 2022

• Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition, Calgary: 2022, invited speaker

• Canadians Working for Inclusivity in Chemical Sciences, Engineering, and Tech. LOGIC2022, keynote

• IUPAC Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition: 2021, Montreal Medal Plenary Lecture

• IUPAC Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition: 2021, Clara Benson Award Lecture

• Association of Chemists for Inclusivity and Diversity: Building Advocacy, Solidarity and Education (ACID:BASE), 2021, keynote

Recent Research Funding (as sole applicant, unless otherwise stated)

• NSERC Discovery Grant: $360,000, 2026-2031

  • Synthetic Methodology Towards Nitrogen-linked Dipyrrolic Frameworks with Tunable Photophysical Capabilities

• Dalhousie University Global Research Seed Fund: $5,000, 2026-2027

  • Development of a UK-Canada Collaboration Regarding Evaluation of Novel Sensors for Hydrogen Gas Leakage in Workplaces where Hydrogen is Dispensed and/or Used

• Net Zero Atlantic Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT) Follow-on-Funding: $250,000, 2026-27

  • Detection of Hydrogen Gas: Sensing and Quantification

• MITACS Accelerate match for Net Zero Atlantic ECT Follow-on-Funding Program: $52,500, 2026

• Canada Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leaders Fund: $130,000, 2025

  • MALDI mass spectrometer

• Dalhousie University DalCore facilities Fund: $51,780, 2025

  • Chemistry Mass Spectrometry Core Facility Upgrades – Q-TOF repair, Q-TOF heater and Orbitrap UPS

• Invest Nova Scotia Early Stage Commercialization Fund: $50,000, 2024

  • High Sensitivity Opto-Electronic Hydrogen-Sensor Platform

• New Frontiers in Research Fund – Exploration: $250,000, 2024-2026

  • David Langelaan, Alison Thompson and two others; Development of Biomaterials for Nanoplastic Detection, Identification, and Sequestration

• NSERC Research Tools and Equipment Grant: $150,000, 2024

  • PI with 7 co-applicants; High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer for Multi-User Multi-Institution Chemical Analysis

• Net Zero Atlantic Emerging Concepts and Technologies (ECT) Research Program: $49,999, 2024

  • High-Performance Opto-Chromic Sensing Technology for Detection of Hydrogen Leaks in Pipelines/Storage

• MITACS Accelerate match for Net Zero Atlantic ECT Research Program: $55,000, 2024

• NSERC Alliance International Grant: $25,000, 2023

  • Tellurophenes in Catalysis

Recent Funding (as PI) for STEM outreach for youth, and their teachers & mentors

Note: STEM proposals undergo Dalhousie University review, via Office of Research Services/ROMEO

• NSERC PromoScience Grant: $ 169,000, 2026-2029

  • SuperNOVA Community STEM Outreach for Mi’kmaw Youth; working with long standing partners, this free-of-charge program provides STEM workshops and week-long summer programs for youth aged 7-12 in eight Mi’kmaq communities across Atlantic Canada and includes Intern Instructor roles for high-school students from each community to support program delivery and provide near-peer mentorship to youth participants.

• Natural Resources Canada: $300,000, 2025-2027

  • Atlantic Clean Energy Stewards Senior; year-round free-of-charge workshops for >1900 youth; hands-on high school curriculum integrating with NS provincial curriculum outcomes; focus area Indigenous youth and girls; grades 9-12).

• NSERC PromoScience Grant: $ 177,000, 2024-2026

  • SuperNOVA Innu Education Support; working with Natuashish and Sheshatshiu communities and Mamu Tshishkutamashutau Innu Education School Board in Labrador; teacher training to support technology use.

• Natural Resources Canada: $300,000, 2024-2026

  • Atlantic Clean Energy Stewards; free-of-charge hands-on workshops across NS, NB, PEI, QC & NFLD), including rural, remote, First Nations, Black Nova Scotian and low-income communities, 4300 youth/120 teachers

• PromoScience Supplement for Science Odyssey: $4,990, 2023

  • SuperNOVA (enabling delivery of eight hands-on workshops for youth aged 9-13, and two community engagement events for families and participants of all ages; design and real-world applications of Cube Satellites)

• Natural Resources Canada: $300,000, 2023-2024

  • SuperNOVA Atlantic Clean Energy Stewards Program; hands-on workshops, 2250 youth grades; Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology + Biofuels/Biomass Impact on Agriculture and Water Supply + Sustainable Aviation Fuels

•  NSERC PromoScience Grant: $ 270,900, 2022-2025

  • Melkiknuawti Land-Based STEM Program; Indigenous high-school youth from Mi’kma’ki

Biography

After her B.Sc. (Hons. Class I, University of Leicester, UK), Alison Thompson received her Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield, UK for developing asymmetric aziridination and epoxidation methodology with Professor Varinder Aggarwal. After a year as a Royal Society/NATO postdoctoral fellow in Strasbourg, France, she joined Professor David Dolphin’s group at the University of British Columbia where she first became involved in chemistry involving pyrroles. In that role, among her research projects Alison led a team that provided a scaled, totally synthetic route to protoporphyrin IX, key as back-up to the launch of the Canadian success story Visudyne (verteporfin) by QLT Inc.

In 2001 Alison took a position as Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, securing an NSERC University Faculty Award. She quickly moved through the ranks to be promoted to full professor in 2009. Her contributions have been recognized via the Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Pyrrole Chemistry for Chemical Biology and Energy, the Dalhousie Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision, the Dalhousie Alumni Association Faculty Award of Excellence for Teaching, the Association of Atlantic Universities Anne Marie MacKinnon Educational Leadership Award, and the CSC Clara Benson Award. Alison has served on the CSC Accreditation Committee, the CSC Organic Division Executive, and the NSERC Chemistry Evaluation Group for Discovery Grants. Alison is heavily involved with the non-profit SuperNOVA, helping to fund and enable hands-on STEM programming to >16,000 youth annually including >40% rural, low-income, newcomer, African-Canadian, Indigenous and hospitalized youth.

Alison’s research involves the design, chemical synthesis and application of structures based upon pyrroles, dipyrrins and prodigiosins. Given the intricacies inherent to working with the electron-rich pyrrolic motif, much of Alison’s research is dedicated to the development of methodology applicable to the incorporation of two or more of pyrroles into chemical species of use in chemical biology and as novel species with pharmaceutical potential. Her contributions developing synthetic methods of relevance to medicinal chemistry have been recognized by provincial health research organizations, charitable organizations and via receipt of multiple CIHR grants. As principal applicant, Alison has held research operating funding from NSERC, CIHR, the Nova Scotia Research Innovation Trust, the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Insititute, the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and the QEII Hospital Research Fund. a CIHR-funded team comprising Membertou First Nation community members, scientists and clinicians (Dalhousie/CBU/NSCC/CBRH) will investigate components and medicinal benefits of Maskwiomin, a traditional salve sourced from birch bark.

The Thompson group is a world leader in the synthesis of analogues of prodigiosin, a natural product containing a dipyrrin and a pyrrolic unit. Prodigiosenes are designed and synthesized to exhibit anticancer, antimicrobial and antimalarial properties while minimizing undesirable general toxicity. A major achievement is the 100-fold reduction in toxicity of synthetic prodigiosenes vs. the parent natural product. One project includes conjugating the prodigiosene pharmacophore to directing units. Another project involves optimizing the photodynamic therapeutic activity of synthetic prodigiosenes, and the light-activated bioactivity, at the expense of unwanted dark activity. Other applications involve probing mechanisms through which the parent natural product effects HCl transport leading to apoptosis. The Thompson group research also involves the development of new methods for the synthesis of dipyrrolic BODIPYs, popular tunable fluorescent probes seeing increasing use as sensors or tags in molecular biology. Through this work, new types of BODIPYs are synthetically available. Furthermore, synthetic design with pyrroles and complexes thereof, is leading to new metal-based light-activated agents of therapeutic interest.

Working with local, national and international collaborators, Alison’s research efforts have resulted in the publication of >100 articles in peer-reviewed journals. For over 15 years she has been a member of the Board of Advisors of SuperNOVA, including as the working Chair of the Board 2015-present. SuperNOVA delivers science, technology and computer science camps and workshops to >14,000 youth per year in Atlantic Canada and beyond via school/after-school workshops, Saturday clubs and summer camps with particular focus on reaching youth in under-served communities.