She has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of California, Davis and M.S. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, both from University of California, Berkeley. Her research interests are in indoor air quality; air pollution; and experimental investigation of physical processes governing the movement of gases and aerosols. Dr. Thatcher's teaching interests include environmental engineering, environmental air quality, air pollution, and air quality measurements. She serves on the California Air Resources Board Research Screening Committee and has served as advisor to Cal Poly Society of Environmental Engineers.