Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
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Gibbons, Bill, 1958-
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
William Ray (Bill) Gibbons was born on January 5, 1958, in Winner, South Dakota, and grew up in Brookings, South Dakota. He graduated from Brookings High School in 1976. Gibbons attended South Dakota State University from 1976 to 1987, earning a B.S. in Microbiology and Chemistry in 1980, an M.S. in Microbiology in 1982, and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Agronomy in 1987.
Gibbons joined the faculty of South Dakota State University in 1987 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Microbiology. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1991 and to Professor in 1997. During his tenure at SDSU, he held several administrative and leadership roles, including Associate Director of the Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development, Director of the South Dakota Oilseed Initiative, and Interim Director of the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.
His research focused on applied microbiology and biotechnology, particularly the use of microbial processes to develop value-added products from biomass and agricultural materials. A central area of emphasis was the development of sustainable fuels and chemicals intended to reduce reliance on petroleum-based products. His work frequently involved collaboration with regional universities, federal laboratories, and research institutions, including the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, North Dakota State University, the University of Minnesota, and the USDA National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research.
Gibbons received numerous awards and honors recognizing his contributions to research and education. He was named SDSU Microbiology Club Teacher of the Year in 1990 and became a Golden Key Honorary Member in 2003. In 2006, he was part of the team that received the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Dean’s Team Award for developing a Center for Excellence in Bioprocessing. In 2007, he was named the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Distinguished Researcher of the Year and received the Gamma Sigma Delta Researcher of the Year award. He also received the Pat and Jo Cannon Intellectual Property Commercialization Award in 2011 and 2012 and the F.O. Butler Award for Excellence in Research in 2014.
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Functions, occupations and activities
Field of Activity: Microbiology, Biotechnology
Occupation: Microbiologists, College teachers
Associated Groups: South Dakota State University, 1987-