And now his teaching and research, which helps to shed light on people and populations using unique methods of bone identification and analysis, have earned national prestigious recognition.
Dr Thompson, Reader in Biological and Forensic Anthropology at Teesside University, has today (Thursday 12 June) been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship by the Higher Education Academy.
The £10,000 Fellowships recognise excellence in teaching and learning, with just 55 awarded this year to academics in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Dr Thompson will receive his Fellowship in a special ceremony later this year.
He said: 'The award is given for demonstrating that you are transforming the learning experience of students, so for me personally, it’s a wonderful recognition of the effort made to make my teaching interesting and innovative.
'As well as acknowledgement for myself and acclaim for the University, there is also a cash award which I can reinvest into my teaching and research.'
Dr Thompson, who teaches at all levels, from foundation courses to PhD students, said: 'I was delighted when I first found out I had been put forward. Although I have a very active research line, I try to bring this directly into my teaching to make it innovative and engaging, so for me personally, it’s great recognition.
'I make a lot of effort to enhance the students’ learning experience and get a positive response from students and colleagues, but it’s still nice to achieve this type of external recognition too, which makes it all the more rewarding.'
Dr Thompson, who has a particular interest in the use of digital technologies in the teaching of the forensic and crime scene sciences, has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals and books. He is a renowned expert on heat-induced apatite and crystallinity changes in bone, and most of his research on this focuses on the development of new analytical tools to examine this challenging biomaterial.
He is also interested in the role of forensic anthropology and anthropologists in the world at large, researching teaching methods and processes within forensic anthropology and has published on the legal and ethical constraints of teaching such subjects.
Dr Thompson is also managing director of anthronomics ltd, which develops and sells teaching aids and tools for those learning and teaching the skeletal sciences.
Alongside developing his own research team at Teesside University, he currently chairs the University Research Ethics and Integrity Committee, is deputy chair of the University Research Degrees Committee and sits on the University Research Policy Committee. Externally, he is the publicity secretary for the British Association for Biological Anthropology and Osteoarchaeology and works closely with the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.
Before coming to Teesside he studied for his PhD at the University of Sheffield and was a Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Teesside University, Professor Eileen Martin said: 'During his time at Teesside University Dr Tim Thompson has shown incredible commitment to the profession and in providing the highest quality experience to his students. We are extremely proud and congratulate him on this prestigious accolade. 'Becoming a National Teaching Fellow is a great honour. It will undoubtedly help to enhance Dr Thompson’s unique research and ultimately benefit current and future students – offering them the best possible learning experience during their time at Teesside University.'
Professor Stephanie Marshall, chief executive of the HEA, said: 'Each year I look forward with great anticipation to the announcement of our new National Teaching Fellows. It is always such an inspirational time as we welcome 55 outstanding teachers in higher education to our growing family of NTFs. This year is no exception.
'While their fields of expertise are many and varied, what they each hold in common is their commitment to learning and teaching, their dedication to their students and their tenacity in sharing their expertise with others. What also strikes me about our National Teaching Fellows this year is their willingness to learn from others, showing us that learning is an ongoing process from which we can all benefit.
'Our students deserve the best possible learning experience and it is colleagues like those we celebrate today who can make a real difference to their futures. I congratulate all the successful Fellows and wish them every success in their own learning and teaching experiences.'