Susan Burns

Susan Burns is a Professor and Associate Chair for Finance & Administration at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). She holds the Dwight H. Evans Professor of Civil Engineering title and currently serves as Interim Associate Vice President for Research Operations and Infrastructure at Georgia Tech. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. (1997), M.S. degrees in Civil (1996) and Environmental Engineering (1996), and B.C.E. (1990), all from Georgia Tech. After seven years as faculty at the University of Virginia, she joined Georgia Tech in 2004.

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering (Geotechnical), Minor: Aqueous Geochemistry (1997)
• M.S., Environmental Engineering (1996)
• M.S., Civil Engineering (Geotechnical) (1996)
• B.C.E., Civil Engineering (1990)

Burns' research focuses on geoenvironmental engineering applications, particularly in sustainable waste reuse (dredged sediments, fly ash, biomass fly ash), highway stormwater treatment using engineered materials, bio-mediated ground improvement, and fundamental soil chemical behavior. Her work explores microbubble transport in porous media, erosion control for roadway soils, and advanced soil property analysis via seismic piezocone testing (SPCPT). She integrates materials design and nanotechnology into geosystems research.

Burns has received federal and industry funding from the National Science Foundation (CAREER award), US Department of Energy, US Army Corps of Engineers, and transportation agencies. Her leadership roles include chairing the ASCE/GeoInstitute Geoenvironmental Engineering Committee and serving on National Research Council committees. She has contributed to conference organization and editorial boards, including ASCE's Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering.

• NSF CAREER Award (2000-2004)
• Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award (ASCE)
• Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award (2021)
• Fellow, American Society of Civil Engineers (2013)
• 100 Influential Women in Georgia Engineering (2022, 2024)

At Georgia Tech, she has led the Geosystems Group, chaired graduate committees, and contributed to accreditation processes (ABET Self-Study reports for BS programs). Her diversity initiatives include mentoring underrepresented engineering students and participating in inclusion programs like the GT Inclusive Leaders Academy and Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship (2021-2022).