Kenneth W. Bayles, PhD
Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Vice Chancellor for Research, UNMC
Founding Director, Center for Staphylococcal Research
Dr. Kenneth W. Bayles received his training in bacterial genetics at Kansas State University, where he earned his PhD in 1989 for his studies of toxin production by the Gram-positive pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. He then performed postdoctoral research at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, examining the regulatory response to DNA damage in Bacillus subtilis and S. aureus.
After nine years as a faculty member at the University of Idaho, he moved to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he became the founding director of the Center for Staphylococcal Research and combined the talents of several investigators to focus on the role of Staphylococcal biofilm in the development of disease.
In 2011, Dr. Bayles was promoted to associate vice chancellor for basic science research at UNMC. He then served as the associate vice chancellor for research and creative activity at the University of Nebraska at Omaha from 2018-22.
He was named vice chancellor for research at UNMC in 2022.
- AA, Biology, May 1982, Hutchinson Community College
- BS, Biology, May 1984, Kansas State University
- PhD, Microbiology, May 1989, Kansas State University
Thesis: Genetic and molecular analysis of the gene encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin D. Adviser: Dr. John J. Iandolo - Postdoctoral fellowship, laboratory of Dr. Ronald E. Yasbin, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1989-90
Throughout his career, Dr. Bayles’ research interests have been funded by multiple NIH grants and have remained focused on elucidating the regulation of bacterial cell death and defining their roles in biofilm development. This research has led to more than 120 publications, many of which having expanded the boundaries of bacterial physiology to include the concept of bacterial programmed cell death and the hypothesis that the molecular control of this process is conserved in plants and animals. In addition, his studies have led to the discovery that bacterial biofilm is a complex developmental process that includes many functions previously thought to be reserved for more complex organisms. In more recent years, his research interests expanded to Department of Defense-related activities including work on countermeasures against weapons of mass destruction such as therapeutics and vaccines to protect against select agents and toxins, as well as compounds to protect against radiation exposure. For his contributions to the field of microbiology, Dr. Bayles was recently inducted into the American Academy of Microbiology.
- UNMC Scientist Laureate, 2018
- Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology, 2017
- UNMC Distinguished Scientist, 2009
- Co-chair, Gordon Research Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases, 2009
- Founder, National Conference on Gram-Positive Pathogens, 2006
- Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award, University of Idaho, 2005
- Co-chair, “Programmed Death and Survival in Bacteria” session at American Society for Microbiology meeting, 2004
- Selected to organize the 45th Annual Wind River Conference on Prokaryotic Biology, 2001