Barb Thomas PhD, MSc, BSc

Dr. Barb R. Thomas joined the University of Alberta (UofA) in 2014, having secured an NSERC/Forest Industrial Research Chair (IRC) in Tree Improvement, which was renewed in 2020.  In addition to her IRC, she led a large-scale applied Genome Canada research project entitled: ‘Resilient Forests (RES-FOR): Climate, Pests and Policy, Genomic Applications’, from 2016 to 2021.  Her newest venture is focussed on the development of a computational database centre for Alberta’s white spruce and lodgepole pine breeding programs in conjunction with the construction of two new SNP arrays for province wide genotyping.   Prior to joining the UofA, Barb ran her own business as an industrial scientist for 17 years, leading the poplar farm research program at Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al-Pac) and representing industry on various government policy/genetics related committees. 

Barb’s background is in horticulture, forest genetics, and ecophysiology, and she is a graduate of both UBC and the UofA. Barb is an active and founding member of Tree Improvement Alberta and sits on various other national and international Boards. Barb’s primary interests lie at the intersection of science, policy, application, and climate change. Barb is currently the Associate Dean (Research), in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, UofA. 

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=Jh1_jlYAAAAJ&view_op=list_works