Maria Mercedes G. Planta is a Professor of History at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), UP Diliman. She was educated at the University of the Philippines (UP) and the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she obtained her Ph.D in History as a full scholar. Her book, Traditional Medicine in the Colonial Philippines, 16th to the 19th Century (University of the Philippines Press, 2017) won the 2018 Philippine National Book Award for Science, from the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics' Circle. 

She was a Visiting Professor and Scholar at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2018), University of Evora (Portugal, 2013), the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Malaya (Malaysia (2013), and the Limbaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI/Indonesian Institute of Sciences, 2012-2013). Aside from from her teaching, research and engagements at the UP CSSP, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at the Asian Center, the Center for International Studies, the College of Science and the Tri-College PhD Philippine Studies Program of UP Diliman.

She is also a recipient of several other awards, grants and fellowships, including the UP Scientific Productivity Award (UP Scientist 1, 2020-2023), the Andrew Mellon Foundation Fellowship from the American Philosophical Society (2017-2018), the One UP Professorial Chair for Outstanding Teaching and Research (2016-2018, 2019-2021), the UP Metro Manila Commission Professorial Chair (2015-2016), the Erasmus Mundos Mobility in Asia (EMMA) from the European Union (2013), the U.P. Diliman Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development PhD Incentive Award (2013–2014), the Southeast Asia Regional Exchange Program (SEASREP) Post-Doctoral Grant (2012), the National Book Development Board Trust Fund Grant (2012),  the UP Centennial Professorial Chair (2011, 2017, 2018), the UP International Publication Award (2010), the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Research Fund (2006), the NUS Asia Research Institute (ARI) Research Grant (2005), The Rockefeller Archive Center Grant (New York, 2005), the University of Malaya Asia-Europe Institute grant (2002),  the Philippine Social Science Council Travel Grant (1999), the Philippine Social Science Council Thesis Grant (1998), and the U.P. Diliman Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD) Thesis Grant (1997).

Previously, she was Associate Dean for Research, Extension and Publications (CSSP, UP Diliman, 2013-2014),  Deputy Director, UP Third World Studies Center (2011–2012), Deputy Director, UP System Information Office (Office of the Vice-President for Public Affairs, UP System, 2010–2012),  Coordinator, UP Diliman Center for International Studies East and Southeast Asia Program (2009–2010),  Officer-In-Charge, UP System Information Office, Office (April 6–8, April 23, 2010), and Officer-In-Charge, UP Center for International Studies, (April 28, 2009-May 6, 2009, November 27, 2009-December 6, 2009).

She is Editor of H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online (An international interdisciplinary forum for scholars in the humanities and social sciences hosted by the Department of History, Michigan State University (2017–present),  Deputy Editor-In-Chief, Regional Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (RJSEAS, 2015– present), Deputy Editor-In-Chief, The Journal of Local History (JLH, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, 2015–2016), Associate Editor, Social Science Diliman (2011–2015), and Associate Editor, Diliman Review (2013–2014).

She is a Member of the International Society of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, the Asian Society for the History of Medicine, the Philippine National Historical Institute, the Philippine Historical Association and the Manila Studies Association (MSA) and an Associate Member of The National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).

She has delivered lectures and academic presentations in Australia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States, in the fields of Traditional Medicine, Disease Research Studies, History of Science, and Colonial Southeast Asia.