Biography

Dr. Karen Burg is the University of Georgia's Vice President for Research. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, with a minor in biochemical engineering, from North Carolina State University and master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees in bioengineering from Clemson University. She subsequently completed a tissue engineering postdoctoral fellowship at Carolinas Medical Center. Dr. Burg served as interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at Clemson University from 2011 to 2014, and interim vice provost for research and innovation from 2007 to 2011, during which time she established the South Carolina Institute for Biological Interfaces of Engineering. She subsequently served as vice president for research and professor of chemical engineering at Kansas State University from 2014 to 2016.

Dr. Burg's research program evolved from tissue engineering for regenerative medicine application to the establishment of biofabrication to build bench-top engineered tissue systems and diagnostics. Technologies from her team’s research serve as the basis for one cancer diagnostics spin-off company which has garnered multiple small business and economic development awards.  During her time as an administrator she directed two undergraduate research initiatives and established three significant programs to increase underrepresented and minority participation in research, graduate education, and the professoriate.

Education

Ph.D., Bioengineering, Clemson University
M.S., Bioengineering, Clemson University
B.A., Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University

Research Interests

• Absorbable polymers
• Biofabrication
• Regenerative engineering
• Science and engineering education
• 3D tissue test systems