Mridul K.

Thomas
Department of Aquatic Ecology
Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
Ueberlandstrasse 133, 8600 Duebendorf, Switzerland
mridul.thomas@eawag.ch | +41 58 765 5534
http://mridulkthomas.weebly.com

EDUCATION AND APPOINTMENTS

2014-present Postdoctoral researcher, Eawag, Switzerland
Supervisor: Francesco Pomati
2007-2013

Ph.D. in Zoology and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behaviour, Michigan

State University, USA
Dissertation: The effect of temperature on the ecology, evolution, and
biogeography of phytoplankton
Advisor: Elena Litchman

2005-2007

M.S. in Marine Science, specialization in Marine Biology (Dr. V. V. R.

Varadachari gold medal), Goa University, India
Dissertation: Iron uptake and nitrate addition in two species of macroalgae

2002-2005

B.S. in Zoology (First class with distinction). Loyola College, University of

Madras, India

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Community ecology, phytoplankton ecology and evolution, trait-based ecology, biological
oceanography, metabolic ecology, global change ecology.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
12. Edwards, K. F., M. K. Thomas, C. A. Klausmeier, and E. Litchman. In press, Limnology
and Oceanography. Phytoplankton growth and the interaction of light and temperature: A
synthesis at the species and community level.

11. Listmann, L., M. LeRoch, L. Schlter, M. K. Thomas & T. B. H. Reusch (2016). Swift
thermal reaction norm evolution in a key coccolithophore species. Evolutionary Applications,
doi: 10.1111/eva.12362
10. Thomas, M. K., C. T. Kremer & E. Litchman (2016). Environment and evolutionary history
determine the global biogeography of phytoplankton temperature traits. Global Ecology and
Biogeography, 25, 75-86.
9. Thomas, M. K. & E. Litchman (2016). Effects of temperature and nitrogen availability on
the growth of invasive and native cyanobacteria. Hydrobiologia, 763(1), 357-369.
8. Litchman, E., P. de Tezanos Pinto, K. F. Edwards, C. A. Klausmeier, C. T. Kremer & M. K.
Thomas (2015). Global biogeochemical impacts of phytoplankton: a trait-based perspective.
Journal of Ecology, 103, 1384-1396.
7. Edwards, K. F., M. K. Thomas, C. A. Klausmeier & E. Litchman. (2015). Light and growth
in marine phytoplankton: allometric, taxonomic, and environmental variation. Limnology and
Oceanography, 60 (2), 540-552.
6. Boyd, P. W., T. A. Rynearson, E. A. Armstrong, F. Fu, K. Hayashi, Z. Hu, D. A. Hutchins,
R. M. Kudela, E. Litchman, M. R. Mulholland, U. Passow, R. F. Strzepek, K. A. Whittaker,
E. Yu & M. K. Thomas. (2013). Marine phytoplankton temperature versus growth responses
from polar to tropical waters - Outcome of a scientific community-wide study. PLoS one,
8(5), e63091.
5. Thomas, M. K., C. T. Kremer, C. A. Klausmeier & E. Litchman. (2012). A global pattern of
thermal adaptation in marine phytoplankton. Science, 338 (6110), 1085-1088.
*featured in multiple media reports, including:
Faculty of 1000: http://f1000.com./prime/717970493,
Nature: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7422/full/491010d.html
New Scientist: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22430-tropical-plankton-exodus-by-2100/

4. Litchman, E., K. F. Edwards, C. A. Klausmeier & M. K. Thomas. (2012). Phytoplankton

niches, traits and eco-evolutionary responses to global environmental change. Marine
Ecology Progress Series, 470, 235-248
3. Edwards, K. F., M. K. Thomas, C. A. Klausmeier, & E. Litchman. (2012). Allometric
scaling and taxonomic variation in nutrient utilization traits and maximum growth rate of
phytoplankton. Limnology and Oceanography, 57 (2), 554-566.

2. Mathews, B., A. Narwani, S. Hausch, E. Nonaka, H. Peter, M. Yamamichi, K. E. Sullam, K.

Bird, M. K. Thomas et al. (2011). Toward an integration of evolutionary biology and
ecosystem science. Ecology Letters, 14 (7), 690-701.
1. Litchman, E., P. de Tezanos Pinto, C. A. Klausmeier, M. K. Thomas & K. Yoshiyama.
(2010). Linking traits to species diversity and community structure in phytoplankton.
Hydrobiologia, 653 (1), 15-28.

PUBLICATIONS - SUBMITTED
indicates undergraduate author
Ryan, C. N., M. K. Thomas & E. Litchman. In review, Hydrobiologia. The effects of
phosphorus and temperature on the competitive success of an invasive cyanobacterium.
Edwards, K. F., M. K. Thomas, C. A. Klausmeier & E. Litchman. In revision, Limnology and
Oceanography. A synthesis of how light and temperature interact to determine phytoplankton
growth at the species and community level
Pomati, F., J. Jokela, S. Castiglioni, M. K. Thomas, & L. Nizzetto. In review, Nature
Communications. Micropollutants reduce the phenotypic diversity and adaptive capacity of
natural phytoplankton communities.

PUBLICATIONS - IN PREPARATION
indicates undergraduate author
Thomas, M. K., Fontana, S. & Pomati, F. Semi-automated gating of high-frequency flow
cytometry data using machine learning approaches.
Thomas, M. K., M. Aranguren-Gassis, C. A. Klausmeier & E. Litchman. Nonlinear interactions
between temperature and nutrients determine the growth rates of phytoplankton

PUBLICATIONS - NON-PEER REVIEWED

Long, T., Martin, S., Pierce, J., Robinson, T., Schmitt, K., Thomas, M. K., & Wyse, S. (2012).
Campus trees: A study of local phenology. DOI:10.1126/science.1213528.
Online supplement to:
Long, T., & Wyse, S. (2012). A season for inquiry: Investigating phenology in local
campus trees. Science, 335 (6071), 932933.
* This plan for a semester-long student project was developed for a course I taught and
was published as a freely available teaching resource.
3

PRESENTATIONS
indicates undergraduate author
Invited oral presentations:
Thomas, M. K., S. Fontana & F. Pomati. 2016. Phytoplankton traits across space and time:
linking environmental change with community patterns. GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for
Ocean Research Kiel, Germany.
Thomas, M. K., S. Fontana & F. Pomati. 2015. Phytoplankton traits across space and time:
linking environmental change with community patterns. University of Oldenburg, Germany.
Thomas, M. K., Kremer, C.T., Klausmeier, C.A. and Litchman, E. 2013. The effects of ocean
warming on marine phytoplankton diversity. Symposium on The Biological Impacts of
Tropical Warming for Ectothermic Animals, San Juan, PR.
Contributed oral presentations:
Thomas, M. K., Fontana, S. & Pomati, F. 2015. Storms and nutrient competition drive highfrequency phytoplankton size dynamics. Ecological Society of America annual conference,
Baltimore, MD.
Thomas, M. K., Fontana, S. & Pomati, F. 2015. Rapid changes in phytoplankton size
distributions are driven by competition for nutrients and storms. Symposium for European
Freshwater Sciences (SEFS9), Geneva, Switzerland.
Thomas, M. K., Fontana, S. & Pomati, F. 2015. Understanding rapid in situ shifts in
phytoplankton traits. Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography annual
conference, Granada, Spain.
Thomas, M. K., Kremer, C. T. and Litchman, E. 2014. Environment and evolutionary history
determine the global biogeography of phytoplankton temperature traits. Ecological Society of
America annual conference, Sacramento, CA.
Thomas, M. K., Kremer, C.T., Klausmeier, C.A. and Litchman, E. 2012. A global pattern in
phytoplankton thermal adaptation and its consequences. MSU EEBB Colloquium, East
Lansing, MI.
Thomas, M. K., Kremer, C. T., Klausmeier, C.A. and Litchman, E. 2011. Phytoplankton
adaptation to temperature across the world ocean. American Society for Limnology and
Oceanography annual conference, San Juan, PR.

Thomas, M. K., Kremer, C. T., Litchman, E. and Klausmeier, C. A. 2011. Ocean warming drives
diversity changes and range shifts in the fundamental niches of marine phytoplankton.
Ecological Society of America annual conference, Austin, TX.
Thomas, M. K., Litchman, E. and Klausmeier, C. A. 2010. Temperature niches of phytoplankton
across the world ocean. Ecological Society of America annual conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
Poster presentations:
Thomas, M. K., Fontana, S. & Pomati, F. 2015. Nutrient competition and storms drive highfrequency phytoplankton cell size dynamics. Biology15 conference, Duebendorf, Switzerland.
Thomas, M. K. and Pomati, F. 2014. Uncovering the drivers of single-cell phytoplankton trait
gradients. GLEON annual meeting, Jouvence, Orford, Canada.
Thomas, M. K., Gould, M. R. and Litchman, E. 2012. Phytoplankton fitness landscapes across
gradients in temperature and phosphorus concentration. Ecological Society of America annual
conference, Portland, OR.
Thomas, M. K., Litchman, E. and Klausmeier, C. A. 2010. Temperature niches of phytoplankton
in the world oceans. MSU BEACON Congress, East Lansing, MI.
Thomas, M. K., Litchman, E. and Klausmeier, C. A. 2010. Temperature niches of phytoplankton
in the world oceans. Gordon Research Conference on the Metabolic Basis of Ecology,
Biddeford, ME.
Ryan, C. N., Thomas, M. K. and Litchman, E. 2010. Nutrient and temperature effects on the
success of an invasive cyanobacterium. Ecological Society of America annual conference,
Pittsburgh, PA.
* Won award for Best Undergraduate Poster
Thomas, M. K. and Litchman, E. 2009. Growth responses of invasive & native cyanobacteria to
temperature. International Association for Great Lakes Research annual conference, Toledo,
OH, USA.
*Won award for Best Student Poster

AWARDS, GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

2013
2012
2010
2009
2009
2009
2008
2008
2007

MSU Dissertation Completion Fellowship ($6000)

MSU Dr. Marvin Hensley Endowed Fellowship in Science ($6000)
MSU Kellogg Biological Station T. Wayne & Katherine Porter Fellowship
($1000)
Best Student Poster Award, Intl. Association for Great Lakes Research annual
conference
MSU Kellogg Biological Station G. H. Lauff Research Award ($500)
Sigma Xi Grant-in-aid of Research ($750)
MSU College of Natural Science Summer Support Fellowship ($4000)
MSU Kellogg Biological Station Graduate Fellowship ($2000)
Dr. V. V. R. Varadachari gold medal in Marine Science

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2010-2013

2012

2012

2012

2011
2010

Teaching Assistant for Eminent Ecologists series (ZOL 891), 4 semesters. I

organized visits by 13 respected ecologists to the W. K. Kellogg Biological
Station, moderated group discussions and managed the seminar series.
Teaching Assistant for Ecology online course (ZOL/PLB 355). I assisted with
course assessment design, helped with student learning by providing feedback,
moderated online group discussions and graded assignments. I also evaluated
course effectiveness and provided feedback for future improvements.
I co-taught a workshop on meta-analysis for high school students as part of a
summer residential program on evolution hosted by MSUs BEACON Center for
the Study of Evolution in Action. Students analysed a published dataset and
identified patterns in sexual and non-sexual selection that they presented in a
poster session at the Kellogg Biological Station.
I taught a module on exponential growth for incoming MSU science students as
part of KBS A2Biology program. This program introduces students to the
importance of math and how it is used in scientific research. I delivered a lecture
and lead classroom discussions, as well and conducted laboratory and statistical
components.
Guest lecture on eco-evolutionary dynamics for Population and Community
Ecology graduate course.
Teaching Assistant for: Field Aquatic Ecology (ZOL 890). I conducted labs,
demonstrated sampling techniques and use of limnological equipment, assisted
student groups with developing and performing research projects, and organized
field trips to local water bodies.

2007-2008

Teaching Assistant for Organisms & Populations Laboratory (BS 110), 3

semesters. As part of this course, I helped develop new course materials and
contributed to a complete restructuring and rewriting of the course to make it
more goal-driven & learner-centric, incorporating backwards design for the first
time. A long-term student project we developed to measure the effects of climate
change on tree phenology was published as a supplementary to a Science paper:
Long, T., Martin, S., Pierce, J., Robinson, T., Schmitt, K., Thomas, M. K.,
& Wyse, S. (2012). Campus trees: A study of local phenology.
DOI:10.1126/science.1213528. Online supplement to:
Long, T., & Wyse, S. (2012). A season for inquiry: Investigating
phenology in local campus trees. Science, 335(6071), 932933.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVIES

2015
2015
2014

2014
2007
2006

Participant in workshop on Linking Stoichiometry and Biodiversity, Terramare,

University of Oldenburg, Germany
Participant in workshop on Trait-based approaches to ocean life, Bigelow
Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, New Hampshire, USA
Participant in workshop on Improving predictive biogeochemical models through
single cell-based analyses of marine plankton physiological plasticity, genetic
diversity and evolutionary processes, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences,
USA
Invited speaker at symposium on The Biological Impacts of Tropical Warming
for Ectothermic Animals, Puerto Rico
Research assistant on 3-week oceanographic research cruise on board ORV Sagar
Kanya, in the Bay of Bengal.
Research assistant on 10-day oceanographic research cruise on board ORV Sagar
Kanya, in the Arabian Sea.

MENTORSHIP
Mentored Lydia Auner, Marilyn Gould, Caitlin Ryan and Alexandra David, undergraduate
students doing independent research projects in the Litchman lab. Ms. Ryan won the Ecological
Society of America Undergraduate Poster Award for research she did in our lab and a paper
based on her results is currently in revision.

REVIEWING
Ecology Letters, Global Ecology and Biogeography, Global Change Biology, Limnology and
Oceanography, Ecology, Oecologia, Aquatic Ecology, Ecography, Hydrobiologia, PLoS one and
Journal of Phycology.

OUTREACH
2014
2011-2012
2011

Educated members of the public about the role algae play in ecosystems while
showing them live samples, as part of Eawags science outreach day.
Led school tour groups through the phytoplankton lab, teaching them about the
ecological research our lab group performed.
I wrote a blog post about my research for the university posted at http://beaconcenter.org/blog/2011/09/19/beacon-researchers-at-work-effects-of-risingtemperatures-on-marine-phytoplankton/. This work was recommended by the
Scientific American EvoEcoLab blog, http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/evoeco-lab/2011/10/05/the-carnival-of-evolution/

SERVICE
2013
2011-2013
2012-2013
2009-2010

KBS Faculty Search Committee (Microbial Ecologist)

KBS Sustainability Team
KBS Housing Committee
KBS Graduate Recruitment Committee

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Ecological Society of America
Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography
Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network