Sam Thompson
University of Western Australia
Rate Professor Sam Thompson
Always patient and willing to help.
Always patient and encouraging to students.
Inspires a passion for knowledge and growth.
Encourages students to think outside the box.
About Sam
Sam Thompson conducted his doctoral research at the UWA Oceans Institute within The University of Western Australia, earning a Doctor of Philosophy degree awarded on 12 February 2025. His dissertation, "Improving aquatic community assessments with eDNA metabarcoding and Stereo-Video in Indian Ocean marine environments," highlights his focus on innovative techniques for marine biodiversity monitoring. Affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences, Thompson's academic interests encompass environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, stereo-video systems, and integrated oceanographic sampling to better understand benthopelagic ecosystems.
Thompson has made notable contributions through peer-reviewed publications that advance field methodologies in marine science. Key works include the development of the "Benthic Observation Survey System (BOSS) for surveys of marine benthic habitats" published in 2025, which facilitates detailed imaging and sampling of seafloor communities; "In Vitro Passive eDNA Sampling Provides a Cost-Effective Alternative for Large Scale Sample Collection" (2025), offering efficient eDNA detection strategies; and "A novel drop-sampler for simultaneous collection of stereo-video, environmental DNA and oceanographic data" (2024), a versatile tool for multi-parameter data acquisition during deployments. Additional publications cover "Imagery of Opportunity: Benthic Habitat Maps in Deeper Shelf Waters (30-200 m)" (2024) and "Preliminary Observations of the Abyssal Megafauna of Kiribati" (2019), demonstrating his involvement in deep-sea research from early career stages.
His research addresses critical challenges such as establishing ecological baselines, tracking invasive species, and evaluating environmental impacts from industrial activities like deep-sea mining and offshore infrastructure. Following his doctoral studies, Thompson transitioned to Curtin University as a Research Associate and Data Scientist in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences, continuing to apply his expertise in molecular ecology and spatial analysis.