MADISON, WI, June 11, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Guy Plunkett III, PhD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Marked by significant contributions to scientific research and academia, Dr. Plunkett has established a remarkable career of several decades in the field of bacteriology. Currently serving as a senior scientist emeritus at the University of Wisconsin, Madison since 2016, he has dedicated his expertise to advancing the understanding of microbial systems. His tenure at the university is characterized by his commitment to research and mentorship, fostering a new generation of scientists through his knowledge and passion.

Along with his role at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Dr. Plunkett was a senior scientist at DNASTAR — a biotechnology company that provides a variety of sequence analysis tools for life science purposes — from 2009 to 2020. During this period, he played a pivotal role in developing innovative software solutions for DNA sequence analysis, contributing to the company's reputation as a leader in bioinformatics. His work at DNASTAR underscored his ability to bridge the gap between computational biology and practical applications in genomics.

From 2002 to 2017, Dr. Plunkett served as a consultant for Scarab Genomics, where he applied his extensive knowledge of microbial genetics to support the development of reduced genome E. coli strains. This work culminated in a patent awarded in 2012 and is widely cited as a model organism in biological research, highlighting his lasting contributions to genetic engineering and synthetic biology.

In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Plunkett held the position of senior curator at the Enteropathogen Resource Integration Center (ERIC-BRC) from 2004 to 2009. In this capacity, he was instrumental in curating and managing the project, ensuring the availability and integrity of microbial data for researchers worldwide. His efforts were crucial in maintaining high standards for both data quality and accessibility.

Dr. Plunkett's equally accomplished journey as a student in higher education began with a Bachelor of Science in life science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1975. He deepened his knowledge with a Master of Science in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1977, followed by a PhD in bacteriology from the same institution in 1988. Furthermore, he completed postdoctoral studies in molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley in 1988, laying a strong foundation for his successful career and fueling his passion for scientific inquiry.

Dedicated to staying at the forefront of microbial research and contributing to the scientific community, Dr. Plunkett has been an active member of professional organizations including the American Society for Microbiology and Bergey's International Society for Microbial Systematics.

Dr. Plunkett was happily married to Joanne Harper Plunkett, BSN for close to 50 years before she passed in October 2024. Her love and support is sorely missed. They shared one son.

Dr. Plunkett attributes much of his success to his genuine interest in science, which he describes as more of a passion than a profession, as well as his wife for her unwavering love and support throughout his storied career. Inspired by early memories of "The Golden Treasury of Natural History" and a childhood interest in dinosaurs and astronomy, his lifelong enjoyment of the natural sciences continues to drive his contributions to microbiology and genomics today.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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