Baylor Bioinformatics Professor Named 2025 KEEN Rising Star for Advancing Entrepreneurial Mindset in Engineering
Mary Lauren Benton, Ph.D., is one of only three faculty nationwide honored by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network for inspiring innovation and real-world problem solving in engineering education
Mary Lauren Benton, Ph.D., assistant professor of bioinformatics at Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science (photo credit: Lane Murphy/Baylor University)
Contact: Kelly Craine, 254-297-9065
Follow us: @BaylorUMedia on X and LinkedIn
WACO, Texas (Oct. 8, 2025) – Mary Lauren Benton, Ph.D., assistant professor of bioinformatics at Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, has been named a 2025 KEEN Rising Star by the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN), a national community of engineering programs dedicated to developing an entrepreneurial mindset in future engineers. Benton is one of only three faculty in the country to receive the honor in 2025.
The KEEN Rising Star recognition honors engineering educators who energize students with curiosity, creativity and connections that prepare them to innovate and create value in their communities. Benton was selected for her leadership in integrating entrepreneurial mindset learning into engineering education and for engaging students in hands-on, real-world problem solving.
“Engineering with an entrepreneurial mindset helps students see beyond a single assignment to the people and problems they can impact,” Benton said. “I’m grateful for this recognition and for colleagues and students who make this work meaningful every day.”
As a Rising Star, she will receive a $10,000 grant from the Kern Family Foundation for a project of her choosing to advance KEEN’s mission. She is exploring opportunities for undergraduate students to engage with authentic projects and data, possibly through immersive research experiences that can fit within a semester or a summer workshop but still give students the thrill of making a discovery. That’s at the core of Benton’s teaching philosophy: a desire to help students connect their work to real-world problems and see how they can create value for society.
“In college, I was drawn to bioinformatics because I realized it gave me a toolkit that I could use to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of human health. I want my students to feel that same sense of possibility in their own learning,” she said.
Benton’s research focuses on the application of computer science methods to interpret how DNA sequences alter genome function and impact disease risk. Her current interests include the development of new approaches that integrate diverse datasets and advance the understanding of gene regulation. The Benton Lab is particularly interested in developing new methods to interpret the impact of genetic variation on gene regulatory processes and to understand the genetic and environmental risk factors of substance use.
Benton’s bioinformatics research also is multidisciplinary, involving multiple academic units at Baylor such as the Institute of Biomedical Studies, biology, chemistry, nutrition and environmental sciences. She said these collaborations with colleagues – both on campus and across institutions – create new opportunities for undergraduate research, which is a strength at Baylor.
“Dr. Benton’s work equips our students to think critically, collaborate across disciplines and deliver solutions that matter,” said Jean Gao, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at Baylor. “This KEEN honor reflects her commitment to student success and excellence in STEM education.”
A Baylor graduate, Benton completed her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University and joined the Baylor faculty in 2020 as an assistant professor of bioinformatics.
ABOUT KEEN
The Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) is a partnership of colleges and universities that champions entrepreneurial mindset education in engineering through faculty development, classroom resources and a collaborative community.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science (ECS) has been preparing its students for more than 25 years as innovators for worldwide impact by training graduates for professional practice and responsible leadership with a Christian worldview. Students can choose from majors including bioinformatics, computer science, cybersecurity, data science, aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, general engineering and mechanical engineering. ECS also offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and biomedical engineering. We stand out from the crowd through Christian commitment, R1 research, a strong community, personalized career support, expert accessibility, and leading practical experience. Visit the ECS website to learn more and follow on Instagram and Facebook