Dr. Bayer completed his doctoral studies in chemical engineering at the University of Illinois, where his research concentrated on the interactions between surfaces and liquids, as well as interface science. He was a visiting and post-doctoral researcher in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Departments at both the University of Illinois and the University of Virginia. Subsequently, Dr. Bayer served as a research scientist at the Italian Institute of Technology (iit) for fifteen years. He holds the position of visiting professor at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Bayer's research endeavors primarily revolve around functional coatings, hybrid nanomaterials, controlled drug release, and the development of bio-based polymer composites for applications in biomedical engineering.

According to Google Scholar his h-index is 73 and he has been recognized as a "Highly Ranked Scholar" by ScholarGPS, placing him in the top 0.05% of researchers worldwide, and holds a D-index (discipline H-index) ranking in the 63rd percentile for Materials Science according to Research.com. Dr. Bayer has been involved in the filing and granting of thirty patents, demonstrating his innovative approach and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and technological advancements.

Dr. Nizet is a professor of Pediatrics, Vice Chair for Basic Research, and Chief of the Division of Host-Microbe Systems & Therapeutics at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine. He is also a professor at UCSD Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. He has authored over 520 peer-reviewed publications and has collaborated with biotechnology professionals in developing new antibiotic and immune-based therapies or vaccines.

At UC San Diego, he leads a large basic and translational research laboratory studying bacterial pathogenesis, innate immunity, and novel approaches to the treatment of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and sepsis.