Bonnie Bassler

Who is Bonnie Bassler?

Bonnie Lynn Bassler is an American molecular biologist. She has been a professor at Princeton University since 1994.

Born in Chicago and raised in Danville, California, Bassler received a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Johns Hopkins University. She made key insights into the mechanism by which bacteria communicate, known as quorum sensing. In 2002 she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. Bassler was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2006. She was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007. In 2008, she received a special recognition from the World Cultural Council.

Bassler has been nominated by the American Society for Microbiology to be one of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Nifty Fifty Speakers who will speak about her work and career to middle and high school students in October 2010. The Nifty Fifty is a collection of the most influential scientists and engineers in the United States, that are dedicated to reinvigorating the interest of young people in science and engineering.

Bonnie Bassler was named 2012 L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards Laureate for North America.