Bayleigh Benner (she/her)
Assistant Professor College of Arts & Sciences Department of Biological and Physical Sciences Providence
Biography
Dr. Bayleigh Benner is a molecular virologist and microbiologist who is interested in uncovering the viral diversity present in marine and freshwater ecosystems with a particular emphasis on RNA viruses that are currently missing in our conceptual framework for these ecosystems.
Currently, Benner studies virus-host interactions at spatially and geochemically distinct hydrothermal vent sites along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Atlantic) and Axial Seamount (Pacific). She collects ‘viromes’ and microbial fractions from vent plumes for downstream metagenomics and microscopy. Her research ultimately aims to provide insights into how these viruses can survive in extreme, primordial environments and impact microbial adaption through modulation of host metabolism and horizontal gene transfer. Part of her research involves collecting, dissecting and sequencing deep sea invertebrates found at hydrothermal vent sites to identify viral interactions taking place within invertebrate hosts. This work will shed new light on the prevalence of viral infections within invertebrate populations and the distribution of these viruses across vent sites.
Prior to joining Johnson & Wales University as an assistant professor of biology, Benner was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Julie Huber at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in the Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry. At WHOI, her research focused on utilizing genomic-based approaches to identifying viral populations and virus-host interactions present within deep sea ecosystems in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans as well as local freshwater ecosystems. She aims to characterize the poorly understood roles that viruses play in global biogeochemical cycling, microbial adaption, modulation of host metabolism, and the evolution of life on earth.
Benner received her B.S. in Marine Science and Biology with a minor in Chemistry at The University of Tampa where she conducted research studying the feeding biomechanics of deep sea squaliform sharks and gene expression changes resulting from Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) infection in mice. Following undergrad, she merged her dual degrees and new-found love for viruses to utilize metagenomic approaches to elucidate ssDNA viruses in both marine and terrestrial invertebrates. Benner received her Ph.D. in 2020 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving an NSF GRFP and NIH T32 training grant to study how retroviral RNAs function to regulate translation of essential proteins through strong cis-acting RNA structural elements. During her thesis work, she applied state-of-the-art live-cell imaging and super resolution microscopy to study virus-host interactions within HIV-1 and other virus models (SARS-CoV-2, Epstein-Barr).
Education
PhD, University of Wisconsin
Microbiology
BS, University of Tampa
Biology
CITI Certification
Johnson & Wales University
CITI Certification
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
CITI Certification
Johnson & Wales University
Adult Mental Health First Aid Training
Johnson & Wales University
CITI Certification
Johnson & Wales University
CITI Certification
Johnson & Wales University
CITI Certification
Johnson & Wales University
Heartsaver First AID CPR AED Certification
Johnson & Wales University
Excellent Explanations Award
Letters to a Pre-Scientist
Luo, E. & Pham, N. & Sheam, M. & Benner, B. & Vallino, J. & Huber, J. (April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 14, 2026). Quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP)-informed metagenomics identifies viruses infecting chemoautotrophs. (Journal Article).
Nature Communications, Epub ahead of print.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71833-x
Miller, R. & Knoener, R. & Benner, B. & Frey, B. & Scalf, M. & Shortreed, M. & Sherer, N. & Smith, L. (April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 1, 2022). Discovery of Dehydroamino Acid Residues in the Capsid and Matrix Structural Proteins of HIV-1.. (Journal Article).
Journal of proteome research, 21(4), 993-1001.
Benner, B. & Bruce, J. & Kentala, J. & Murray, M. & Becker, J. & Garcia-Miranda, P. & Ahlquist, P. & Butcher, S. & Sherer, N. (January (1st Quarter/Winter) 12, 2022). Perturbing HIV-1 Ribosomal Frameshifting Frequency Reveals a cis Preference for Gag-Pol Incorporation into Assembling Virions.. (Journal Article).
Journal of virology, 96(1), e0134921.
Knoener, R. & Evans, E. & Becker, J. & Scalf, M. & Benner, B. & Sherer, N. & Smith, L. (February 25, 2021). Identification of host proteins differentially associated with HIV-1 RNA splice variants. (Journal Article).
eLife, 10.
https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.62470
Romero-Masters, J. & Huebner, S. & Ohashi, M. & Bristol, J. & Benner, B. & Barlow, E. & Turk, G. & Nelson, S. & Baiu, D. & Van Sciver, N. & Ranheim, E. & Gumperz, J. & Sherer, N. & Farrell, P. & Johannsen, E. & Kenney, S. (February 14, 2020). B cells infected with Type 2 Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have increased NFATc1/NFATc2 activity and enhanced lytic gene expression in comparison to Type 1 EBV infection.. (Journal Article).
PLoS pathogens, 16(2), e1008365.
Rosario, K. & Mettel, K. & Benner, B. & Johnson, R. & Scott, C. & Yusseff-Vanegas, S. & Baker CCM & Cassill, D. & Storer, C. & Varsani, A. & Breitbart, M. (October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 11, 2018). Virus discovery in all three major lineages of terrestrial arthropods highlights the diversity of single-stranded DNA viruses associated with invertebrates.. (Journal Article).
PeerJ, 6, e5761.
Garcia-Miranda, P. & Becker, J. & Benner, B. & Blume, A. & Sherer, N. & Butcher, S. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 11, 2016). Stability of HIV Frameshift Site RNA Correlates with Frameshift Efficiency and Decreased Virus Infectivity.. (Journal Article).
Journal of virology, 90(15), 6906-6917.
Benner, B. & Martorell, A. & Mahadevan, P. & Najm, F. & Tesar, P. & Freundt, E. (June, 2016). Depletion of Olig2 in oligodendrocyte progenitor cells infected by Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus. (Journal Article).
Journal of NeuroVirology, 22(3), 336-348.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13365-015-0402-7
Breitbart, M. & Benner, B. & Jernigan, P. & Rosario, K. & Birsa, L. & Harbeitner, R. & Fulford, S. & Graham, C. & Walters, A. & Goldsmith, D. & Berger, S. & Nejstgaard, J. (December 18, 2015). Discovery, Prevalence, and Persistence of Novel Circular Single-Stranded DNA Viruses in the Ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi and Beroe ovata.. (Journal Article).
Frontiers in microbiology, 6, 1427.
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Advisory Council meeting, “Developing Data Science and Bioinformatics Training in Our Curriculum,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI. (October 28, 2025).
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Faculty Welcome, “Provost Teaching Innovation Grant: Developing Data Science and Bioinformatics Training in Our Curriculum,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI. (August 19, 2025).
International Aquatic Virus Conference, “Characterization of Viral Diversity and Distribution at Three Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Vent Fields Along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge,” French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique), Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. (May 5, 2025).
JWU Faculty EXPO, “Characterization of Viral Diversity at Newly Discovered Hydrothermal Vent Fields,” Johnson & Wales University, Providence, RI, United States. (February 14, 2025).