From Shakespeare farm boy to internationally recognized scientist: Dr. Steve Wilhelm makes his hometown proud

Dr. Steve Wilhelm, pictured with his wife, Jennifer De Bruyn, and their daughter, Georgia, enjoys travelling with his family when he isn't conducting internationally recognized scientific research. Contributed photo

By Gary West

It's always interesting to hear where people who grew up in our communities have ended up, particularly when their hard work and determination have taken them to incredible heights.

For Dr. Steven W. Wilhelm, who grew up on a family farm south of Shakespeare in the former South Easthope Township, that journey has taken him around the world and earned him international recognition for his research into the microscopic organisms that inhabit our lakes and oceans.

Wilhelm was raised on the family farm of his parents, Wray and Patty Wilhelm, alongside his brother, Brian. Like many farm kids growing up in the area, he was actively involved in 4-H, participating in both the Swine Club and Small Engines Club.

One of his proudest childhood accomplishments was being named Grand Champion Gilt showman at the Ontario Pork Congress, an achievement he still recalls with a smile.

After attending Sprucedale Public School in Shakespeare and Stratford Central Secondary School, Wilhelm pursued a career in science that would eventually take him to some of North America's leading universities.

Today, Wilhelm is the Kenneth and Blaire Mossman Professor of Microbiology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he has spent the past 25 years studying the complex relationships between microscopic organisms and the environments in which they live.

Following his studies at Western University, Wilhelm continued his academic training at the University of Texas and the University of British Columbia before joining the faculty at the University of Kentucky. He later moved to the University of Tennessee, where he has established an internationally recognized research program.

His work focuses on the relationships between microbial communities and the natural processes that influence the health of lakes and oceans.

Using advanced scientific techniques, including DNA and RNA sequencing, Wilhelm and his research team study viruses, bacteria and algae to better understand how these organisms interact and influence aquatic ecosystems.

His contributions to science have earned him numerous prestigious honours.

In 2016, he was named a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Sustaining Fellow of the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography.

In 2021, he was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, one of the most respected scientific organizations in the world.

That same year, Wilhelm and fellow researcher Curtis Suttle received the John Martin Award from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography for their contributions to understanding the viral shunt, a process through which viruses influence how nutrients and organic matter move through aquatic ecosystems.

Beyond his own research, Wilhelm has dedicated much of his career to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

His research group has graduated 16 doctoral students and eight master's students, while providing research opportunities for more than 100 undergraduate students.

He has also helped lead a National Science Foundation-funded undergraduate research program, served in academic leadership positions and contributed to numerous scientific editorial advisory boards.

For those who remember Wilhelm growing up in the Shakespeare area, his accomplishments are certainly something to celebrate.

Interestingly, he isn't the only former Sprucedale Public School student to achieve international recognition in the sciences.

His former classmate, Dr. Laurel Schafer, whose accomplishments have previously been featured in this newspaper, has also built an impressive career in scientific research.

Both have travelled extensively, sharing their knowledge as guest speakers and contributing to research that could help improve lives and our understanding of the world for generations to come.

Despite their remarkable professional accomplishments, family and their hometown roots remain important to both scientists.

Wilhelm continues to cherish the memory of his late father, Wray, while maintaining close ties with his mother, Patty, and brother, Brian.

He and his wife, Jennifer De Bruyn, also enjoy travelling and spending time with their daughter, Georgia.

Similarly, Schafer continues to remember her late mother, Kathy, while remaining close to her father, Bill, and sisters, Heather and Angela.

From their early days at Sprucedale Public School to their internationally recognized scientific careers, Wilhelm and Schafer are wonderful examples of what young people from small rural communities can accomplish through education, curiosity and determination.

And while their careers have taken them around the world, Shakespeare will always be a place they can call home.

Their hometown community certainly has plenty of reasons to be proud.