Matthew Thompson

Matthew Thompson has extensive work experience in various roles, primarily in the fields of physics and technology development. Currently, they are the VP of Systems Engineering at Zap Energy, where they lead the development of high-average-power repetitive pulsed power, high-duty-cycle cathodes, and liquid metal systems. Prior to that, Matthew served as the Director of Systems Engineering at Zap Energy, where they focused on technology development and team building.

Before joining Zap Energy, Matthew worked as an Author, Speaker, and Mentor at Prosperous Physicist. In this role, they established and curated a website and online resource center for physical scientists on non-academic career paths. Matthew also mentored numerous young scientists independently and through organized programs.

Matthew also held several leadership positions at the American Physical Society (APS Physics), including Chair, Forum on Industrial & Applied Physics (FIAP), Chair-Elect, Forum on Industrial & Applied Physics, and Chair, Committee on Careers & Professional Development. In these roles, they were responsible for coordinating career and professional development in physics and advising the society on related matters.

In addition, Matthew worked at BAE Systems, Inc. as a Technology Development Manager III, where they led advanced technology research and development programs in various fields such as UAS autonomy, smallsats, and hypersonic aviation. Matthew focused on innovation and the development of new ideas in remote sensing systems.

Matthew also held positions at TAE Technologies, Inc. as the Director of Physics, Lead Scientist, and Senior Scientist. Matthew led a technical organization supporting a fusion energy program and was involved in various innovations in areas such as diagnostics, data analysis, and operations. Matthew also managed a team of scientists and specialists and built cross-functional partnerships to deliver key elements of an instrumentation program.

Prior to that, Matthew worked as a Postdoctoral Research Staff Member at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where they led an experiment on laser-driven non-equilibrium phase transitions. Matthew was responsible for various aspects of the experiment, including apparatus design, numerical modeling, and testing.

Matthew's early career included a position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at UCLA, where they conducted experiments on dielectric tube accelerating structures and underdense plasma lenses using high-intensity electron beams.

Throughout their career, Matthew has demonstrated strong technical expertise, leadership skills, and a passion for advancing technology and physics.

Matthew Thompson's education history includes a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, which they completed from 1997 to 2004. Prior to that, they earned a B.S. in Physics from Stanford University, where they studied from 1993 to 1997. Aside from their formal education, Matthew also obtained a certification in "Body Language for Leaders" from LinkedIn in June 2018.