Mark Burnham

Mark Burnham is an Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Science at Emory Henry College, located in Emory, Virginia. His research focuses on ecosystem ecology, particularly the interactions between plants, soil, and human activities in forest and agricultural systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from West Virginia University (2017), an M.S. in Agronomy from Penn State University (2011), and a B.S. in Biology from St. Lawrence University (2009). His teaching includes courses such as Introduction to Environmental Studies, General Biology, and Applied Ecology.

His research investigates how plants influence carbon and nitrogen flows in ecosystems and explores sustainable agricultural practices to enhance ecosystem services. Key projects include studying nitrogen dynamics in bioenergy crops like sorghum and miscanthus, as well as long-term nitrogen cycling studies at the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia. His work bridges basic ecological inquiry with applied solutions for mitigating environmental impacts of agriculture.

Burnham’s recent publications emphasize nitrogen management in agroecosystems, rhizosphere processes, and the resilience of forests to disturbances like windstorms and snow damage. His research highlights the importance of understanding plant-soil interactions to address climate change and sustainable land use challenges.

He currently advises no formal graduate students but contributes to undergraduate research through classroom and field-based learning. No scientific awards are listed, though his work demonstrates significant contributions to agroecology and ecosystem science.