Before joining the U of M faculty, he held an appointment in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. He is fascinated by how experience changes the brain and has published extensively in this area. Thomas has also presented his research at universities and conferences around the United States. He has been accorded many honors, including a McKnight Land-Grant Professorship from the U of M, a Kavli Fellowship from the National Academy of Sciences, and a Wallin Neuroscience Discovery Award. Among his collaborators is Kelvin Lim.