Dr. Robert Burns, Ph.D., P.E.

Associate Professor

Curriculum Vita

ISU Directory Profile

Education:

B.S. Agricultural Engineering, The University of Tennessee
M.S. Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee
Ph.D Civil Engineering, The University of Tennessee
Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.)

Current Projects:

1. Concentration and Extraction of Phosphorus from Swine Manure Slurries (as Struvite).

2. Non-Basin Technologies for Open Feedlot Runoff: Demonstration, Implementation, and Modeling.

3. Development and Testing of Hydrogen Sulfide Detection System for use in Swine Housing.

Poultry Housing Emissions4. Quantification of Gaseous and Particulate Emissions from Mechanically Ventilated Poultry Housing.

5. Biogas Methane Potential from Animal Waste and Ethanol Byproducts.

Biography:

Dr. Robert T. Burns is a tenured Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University with a joint extension/research appointment in the area of environmental management of agricultural systems. His area of extension specialization is the design of animal waste management systems and nutrient management planning for livestock and poultry operations. Robert currently leads a national Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning (CNMP) certification program for USDA technical Service Providers (TSPs). His research focuses on animal waste management and includes work on anaerobic digestion, solids separation, phosphorus recovery, and air emissions monitoring and mitigation from animal production facilities.

Dr. Burns has fifteen years of experience working on environmental and agricultural engineering projects. During his professional career Robert has published over 105 technical publications dealing with animal waste and air quality management, served as PI or Co-PI on 43 funded grants totaling $5,127,478 and served as a major or co-major professor to 20 masters and doctoral students. 

Prior to joining the faculty at Iowa State Univeristy Robert was on faculty at The University of Tennessee for nine years where he served as the Water Quality and Waste Management specialist for the Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. From May15-November 15, 2006 Dr. Burns served a six month assignment as the Conservation Engineer within the Conservation Engineering Division of the Washington DC National Headquarters office of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. In this position he worked on alternative manure treatment systems and USDA Technical Service Provider Issues.

Dr. Burns has worked on agricultural engineering projects with the USEPA, US AID, USDA-NRCS, USDA-FAS, The Commonwealth Development Corporation of Great Britain, America's Clean Water Foundation and numerous state departments of agriculture and environmental protection. Robert has worked on projects in Armenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania, The Democratic Republic of Zambia, The Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. Robert has designed or 350 animal manure management, irrigation and water supply systems. In 2003 Robert received the Nolan Mitchell Young Extension Worker Award from the American Society of Agricultural Engineers for distinguished educational programming in the areas of water quality and animal waste management.

Contact Information:

Robert T. Burns, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor
Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University
3224 NSRIC
Ames, Iowa 50011

Voice - 515-294-4203
Cell    - 515-520-1780
Fax    - 515-294-4250
Email - rburns@iastate.edu
Skype ID - rtburns
www.abe.iastate.edu/wastemgmt/