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Stefan du Plessis was born in Stellenbosch (1968) where he also spent his early childhood. After relocating to the nearby rural town of Malmesbury he completed his secondary schooling at Swartland High. The magnetism of Stellenbosch and its famous wines made Stellenbosch University the obvious choice for his tertiary education where he obtained a BSc (1989 - Animal Physiology; Zoology) and BSc(Hons) (1990 - cum laude). While studying towards his MSc (1994 - Animal Physiology) he was appointed as a Technical Officer in the Department of Human and Animal Physiology. He held this post until taking up his current position, first as lecturer from May 1997, and then as ad hominem Senior Lecturer in the Division of Medical Physiology from December 2002. He soon discovered that it was much easier to teach Animal Physiology to humans than Human Physiology to ... medical students. In the mean time he studied towards an Hons.B.(B. & A.) (1997) and obtained his MBA (1997) from the USB. With a research interest and background in the reproductive physiology of ruminants, he joined the Infertility Research Group at Tygerberg Hospital. Under the guidance of Prof Daniel Franken he was awarded a PhD in 2002 with the dissertation entitled "A study of the intracellular signaling events involved in the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction in human spermatozoa". Stefan subsequently established his own research group known as the Spermatology Laboratory or "SpermLab". His present research interests concern the effects of Oxidative Stress (ROS & RNS) on sperm parameters as well as elucidating the roles of insulin, leptin, glucose and GLUT8 in human sperm function. The SpermLab is also involved in training of postgraduate students (B.Sc Hons, M.Sc and Ph.D.) who actively participate in the above-mentioned research projects. Thus far 5 B.Sc.(Hons) and 3 M.Sc. students have graduated from the laboratory, with 2 M.Sc. and 3 Ph.D. students currently enrolled. Various international elective students have also spent time training and researching in the laboratory. He collaborates extensively with Prof Ashok Agarwal (Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA) and Prof Gerhard van der Horst (Department of Medical Biosciences; University of the Western Cape, RSA). Currently he has authored/co-authored more than 20 articles in scientific journals. Stefan has also been appointed as visiting Senior Lecturer (January 2005 - December 2009) in the Physiology Department of the College of Medicine at the University of Malawi.
In his free time he like to tinker around the house (gardening, bricklaying, carpentry, cooking) and visit interesting places (e.g. Iran, Turkey, Austria, New Zealand, Kenya). If you visit his home you will also discover that him and his wife, Wendy, are animal-crazy as evidenced by their private zoo that include hamsters, rabbits, chickens, tortoises, Persian cats and two young children Christopher (born 2000) and Megan (born 2002).
He was elected Chairman of the Division of Medical Physiology for a 5 year term in October 2008.
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