"Thomas K. Plant received a B.S. in physics from Kansas State University, his M.S. in solid state physics from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana). His research interests are in fiber optic sensors, micromachining in technology and applications, electroluminescent display devices, optoelectronics (including photodetectors and diode lasers), and the optical properties of materials.

From 1975-1978, he worked at Hughes Research Laboratories as a member of technical staff. In 1978, he became an assistant professor at Oregon State University in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. And in 1982, he became an associate professor in the department. Plant has also served as a visiting professor/researcher at a number of universities including, Sheffield University, United Kingdom; Ulm University, Germany; Helsinki Technical University, Finland; and Stuttgart University, Germany. He currently works at the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Oregon State University.

An IEEE Senior Member, Plant is also a member of the American Society of Engineering Education and the Optical Society of America, advising the Oregon State University student chapter of OSA. A member of Sigma Xi, he is a former Intel Fellow and previous winner of the Oregon State College of Engineering Loyd Carter teaching Award."