Dr. Michell Thomey might be new to CSUB but she’s no stranger to Kern County. Born in Anaheim but raised in the Lake Isabella area, Dr. Thomey will join the university’s biology department to teach human ecology and an introductory course on plant biology.
Since earning her master’s degree in biology from CSU Fullerton and her Ph.D. in the same subject from the University of New Mexico, Dr. Thomey has worked for the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She most recently taught at Chapman University in Orange, Calif.
“I wanted to work at CSUB because of the strength and diversity of interests in the faculty, and I grew up in the area,” Dr. Thomey said. “Having the opportunity to teach students new ideas and skills about local ecological topics and how they fit at the global scale is something that excites me. I have a broad research and teaching background, so I look forward to bringing those experiences with me and engaging students in learning biology and attaining their academic goals in the process.”
Dr. Thomey’s research focuses on environmental plant physiology, especially how climate patterns, such as changes in temperature and precipitation, impact plant response across ecosystems and components of the carbon cycle, such as photosynthesis and respiration. Her work with the USDA and UIUC focused on the interactive effect of heat stress and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide on soybean production. Field testing crops that have been genetically modified to maintain productivity under drought or heat stress is an innovative and highly dynamic area of research, Dr. Thomey said, and a topic she believes students will also be interested in.
“As an instructor at CSUB, I will provide opportunities for students to be actively engaged with current research topics in the courses and labs that I teach,” she said. “Whether that is through designing course projects, analyzing and interpreting data sets or writing mock grant proposals for a topic of study, some of my goals for students are that they learn science through experience and to generate awareness for students about opportunities that are available in the Department of Biology.”
Dr. Thomey’s research has allowed her to travel and live all over the world, including a six-month research experience Antarctica, which she called a life-changing opportunity. Her love of traveling and exploring extends beyond her research, spending her free time going to the beach and hiking in the mountains, as well as swimming and playing tennis. Most recently, she did some kayaking with her family on Lake Marry and Mono Lake. Now, she is excited to return to the Central Valley.
“I have not lived in the area/California for a few decades,” she said. “It is terrific to be back! I am happy to be living closer to my family. I am excited about teaching and giving back to students in my local community.”