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Matthew Thompson

Research Associate, Senior
Molecular Genetics and Microbiology

Research Interests


Host-viral interactions, RNA-binding proteins, transcriptomics

I grew up in Ohio and received a BS in Biotechnology from Kent State University (2013). I then moved to Philadelphia, PA where I completed a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania in Kristen Lynch’s lab (2019). My doctoral work focused on alternative splicing regulation of both host and viral transcripts during influenza A infection. During my time in Kristen’s lab I became interested in the mechanisms that cause mis-regulation of RNA binding proteins during infection to give rise to changes in the host and viral transcriptomes. In Stacy’s lab I am exploring this interest by studying how the proteins that regulate post-transcriptional modification of RNA are functionally altered during infection with viruses from the Flaviviridae family.

Selected Grants


Defining the role of the RNA modification N6-methyladenosine during Flaviviridae virus infection

ResearchSr. Res. Assoc. · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2016 - 2027

Regulation of RIG-I signaling and viral immune evasion by ufmylation

ResearchPostdoctoral Associate · Awarded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021 - 2026

Defining the mechanism by which a novel m6A-binding protein shields cells from immuno-stimulatory RNA

FellowshipPI-Fellow · Awarded by American Cancer Society, Inc. · 2022 - 2025