The Lucks Lab recently hired our first lab manager, Andrea Thompson! Andrea officially joins our lab as a research technologist, where she’ll be responsible for management and oversight of several of our critical lab processes.
Andrea joins us after stints at one of Chicago’s landmark institutions, The Field Museum of Natural History. At The Field Museum Andrea worked and volunteered in various roles, including work with Dr. Max Winston in the lab of Dr. Corrie Moreau. In the Moreau lab, Andrea’s main focus was on Eciton burchellii (army ants). If working with Army Ants wasn’t cool enough, Andrea also worked with the lichen genus Pheaographis with Dr. Thorsten Lumbsch at the Field Museum.
Andrea has a deep interest in ecology and evolution, and is keen to learn new areas of science. She’s also passionate about volunteering in programs that cater to students with little exposure to science (particularly those in the South and West sides of Chicago). Andrea specifically mentions the SPARK program, in which she worked with 7th grade students at the Field Museum to collect and identify lichens using morphologic and genetic tools.
Outside of the lab Andrea enjoys video games, hiking, and travel. She loves listening to music and can be caught enjoying anything from musicals to hip hop to classical at any time of the day.
Welcome Andrea!
Lucks Laboratory 