William Plaxton received a BSc in Biochemistry in 1980 from Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada) and a PhD in Biochemistry in 1984 from the same institution. His PhD research under the supervision of Ken Storey focused on the role of enzyme phosphorylation in the metabolic adaptations of intertidal marine molluscs to environmental anoxia stress. He was awarded an NSERC Post-doctoral Fellowship to conduct research on plant starch metabolism with Jack Preiss (Dept. of Biochem., Michigan State Univ.). His independent career began in 1986 when appointed as a NSERC University Research Fellow and Assist. Prof. to the faculty in the Dept. of Biology at Queen’s Univ. (Kingston, Canada).
Sports, Music & the Great Outdoors
Plaxton is an avid road & gravel cyclist, sea kayaker / canoeist, and nordic/downhill skier. Apart from paddling all around the remarkably diverse waterways of the Kingston region, he looks forward to annual wilderness canoe/kayak camping trips with his family, particularly in La Verendrye Park, a vast natural paradise in Quebec.
Plaxton also enjoys playing electric & upright bass with several musical groups in the Kingston region
