Karen J.L. Burg

Small Animal Medicine & Surgery

Harbor Lights Chair in Biomedical Research, Professor, Vice President for Research

Expertise

Regenerative Medicine

Biography

Honored with a 2022 U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for her work with underrepresented groups to develop fully the Nation’s human resources in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Karen J.L. Burg is the Harbor Lights Chair of Biomedical Research in the Department of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery and Professor of Chemical, Materials, & Biomedical Engineering. Burg is an internationally recognized biomaterials educator, inventor, and researcher for her work to inspire equitable innovation in biomedicine and biomedical education. Her body of published work initiated and elucidated critical processes and technologies that have led to the current state of commercial tissue fabrication. Her 3D tissue fabrication cultureware and methodology was the impetus for the launch of functional precision oncology company Kiyatec, Inc., which has demonstrated the utility of her technology in multiple clinical trials and in partnership with global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, evaluating patient-specific predictor tests for improved response to cancer therapies. Dr. Burg’s research and innovation has inspired hundreds of mentees now working in industry, academia, and government; her research mentoring efforts are most recently visible in the National Institutes of Health’s National Research Mentoring Network Launching Research course series, which she authored.

Education

Academic

Postdoctorate, Carolinas Medical Center, Tissue Engineering, 1999
Ph.D., Clemson University, Bioengineering (Experimental Statistics minor), 1996
M.S., Clemson University, Bioengineering, 1992
B.S., North Carolina State University, Chemical Engineering (Biochemical Engineering minor), 1990

Professional

National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, 2020
American Council on Education Advancing to the Presidency, 2015
National Science Foundation Innovation Corps for Learning, 2015
American Association of State Colleges & Universities Millennium Leadership Institute, 2013
Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership in Education, 2011
American Council on Education Fellowship, 2006

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

Academic Leadership Roles

Vice President for Research, University of Georgia, 2021 – present
Executive Vice President, University of Georgia Research Foundation, 2021 – present
Vice President for Research, Kansas State University, 2014 – 2016
Director, Institute for Biological Interfaces of Engineering, Clemson University, 2007 – 2014
American Council on Education Fellow (Mentor: President G. Wayne Clough), Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007
American Council on Education Fellow (Mentor: President Freeman Hrabowski), University of Maryland Baltimore County, 2006
Materials and Processing Research Thrust Leader, Clemson University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Clark Atlanta University National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Advanced Engineering Fibers and Films, 2004 – 2006

Faculty Appointments

Professor of Chemical, Materials, & Biomedical Engineering, University of Georgia, 2020 – present
Harbor Lights Endowed Chair & Professor of Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Georgia, 2016 – present
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, 2014 – 2016
Hunter Endowed Chair & Professor Emerita, Clemson University, 2014 – present
Vice Provost & Dean of the Graduate School, Clemson University, Interim Appointment, 2011 – 2014
Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, Clemson University, Interim Appointment, 2007 – 2011
Professor and Hunter Endowed Chair of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 2005 – 2014
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (adjoint), Clemson University, 2009 – 2014
Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (adjoint), Clemson University, 2005 – 2008
Associate Professor of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 2003 – 2005
Associate Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (adjoint), Clemson University, 2003 – 2005
Associate Professor of Graduate Studies, Medical University of South Carolina, 2003 – 2008
Research Faculty (adjunct), Carolinas Medical Center, 1999 – 2004
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 1999 – 2003
Research Associate, Department of General Surgery Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1999
Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of General Surgery Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1996–1998
Research Associate, Poly-Med, Inc., 1996

Professional Organization Leadership Roles

Member, Army Research Leadership Council, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, 2023-present
Director, Advisory Board, Battelle Savannah River Alliance, 2021-present
Member Representative, Southeastern Universities Research Association, 2021-present
Director and Chair, Advisory Board, Kansas State University Research Foundation, 2014-2016
Director and Chair, Advisory Board, Kansas State Innovation Partners, 2014-2016
Director, Advisory Board, National Academy of Inventors, 2014-present
President, Society For Biomaterials, 2011-2012
President-Elect, Society For Biomaterials, 2010-2011
Director, Advisory Board, SC BIO, 2010-2011
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Histotechnology, 2006-2017
Executive Editor, Biomaterials Forum, 2005-2011

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

U.S. Department of State Activities

Alumni Ambassador, US-Netherlands Global Entrepreneurship Summit, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2019
Delegate, US-India Global Entrepreneurship Summit, Hyderabad, India, 2017

National Academies/National Science Board/National Research Council Activities

Co-chair, Education Committee, National Academy of Inventors, 2022-2024
Member, Program Committee, National Academy of Inventors, 2016-2018, 2024
Moderator, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-Future of Patents in a Conscious-Lead Economy Panel, Phoenix, AZ, 2022
Speaker, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-U.S. IP Alliance Panel, 2021
Moderator, National Academy of Inventors-US Patent and Trademark Listening Tour with Director Andrei Iancu, Breaking Patent Barriers, 2020
Panel Moderator & Discussant, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2020 – Meeting Cancelled Due to COVID-19; panel content captured in Technology & Innovation Annual Meeting issue)
Moderator, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-Harnessing ALL Available Talent to Invent a Better World, Houston, TX, 2019
Reviewer, National Academies National Research Council Research Associateship Programs, 2/2013, 6/2013, 12/2013, 3/2014, 3/2015, 3/2016, 6/2016, 9/2016, 12/2016, 3/2017, 6/2017, 8/2017, 12/2017, 3/2018, 6/2018, 8/2018, 12/2018
Panel Chair, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-Intersection of Ideas and Entrepreneurship, Washington D.C., 2018
Guest Editor (National Academy of Inventors 2018 conference issue), Technology and Innovation
Session Chair, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 2018
Chair, National Academy of Inventors Development Committee, 2017-2018
Invited Presenter, 15th Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Conference, 2017
Member, National Academy of Inventors Industry Task Force, 2017
Panel Moderator, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-Honoring Innovators through Local NAI Chapters, Boston, MA, 2017
Panelist, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting-Impacting Society through Invention and Entrepreneurship, Boston, MA, 2017
Member, Board of Directors, National Academy of Inventors, 2015-present
Member, Nominations Committee, National Academy of Inventors, 2015-present
Invited Panelist, National Academy of Inventors Annual Meeting, Pasadena, CA, 2015
Invited Participant, 13th Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Conference, 2015
Invited Contributor, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and Keck Foundation Project on Innovative Research, 2013-2014
Session Chair, National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2012
Member (ex officio), Organizing Committee, National Academy of Engineering US Frontiers of Engineering Meeting, 2012
Invited Presenter, National Academy of Engineering Indo-America Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, 2008
Contributor to the National Science Board National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. STEM Education System (NSB-07-114), 2007
Invited Presenter, 4th Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Conference, 2006
Invited Presenter, 3rd Annual National Academies Keck Futures Initiative Conference, 2005
Invited Participant, National Academy of Engineering, Ninth Annual Symposium “Frontiers in Engineering”, 2003
Panelist, National Academy of Engineering Frontiers in Engineering Public Awareness of Engineering, 2003
Invited Presenter, National Academy of Sciences Annual Symposium “Frontiers of Science”, 2002

AWARDS & HONORS

White House Awards

Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM, from US President Joseph Biden), 2021
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE, from US President George W. Bush), 2002

Fellowships

Advocacy Honors

Distinguished AIMBE Advocate, American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering, 2021
Inaugural Ambassador, American Association for the Advancement of Science-Lemelson Invention Ambassadors, 2014

Other Prestigious Awards and Honors

Distinguished Alumni Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering North Carolina State University, 2022
Inaugural Sentinel Award, National Academy of Inventors, 2022
Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE Engineering in Medicine & Biology Society, 2015-2016
Invited Presenter, Biomaterials and Biocompatibility/Tissue Engineering Gordon Research Conference, 2009
Clemson University Board of Trustees Award for Faculty Excellence, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Sigma Xi Outstanding Researcher Award, 2008
National Society for Histotechnology Award, 2007
Inaugural AORF Research Prize, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) Foundation, Switzerland, 2006
South Carolina Governor’s Young Scientist Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, 2006
National Society for Histotechnology C.F.A. Culling Lecture Award, 2006
Clemson University College of Engineering and Science Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, 2006
Invited Presenter, Mammary Gland Biology Gordon Research Conference, 2005
Department of Defense Era of Hope Scholars Award, 2004
Named to MIT Technology Review’s TR100 Young Innovators List, 2003
Clemson University Outstanding Woman Faculty Award, 2003
Clemson University Dixon Fellow, 2003, 2004, 2005
Invited Presenter, Biomaterials and Biocompatibility/Tissue Engineering Gordon Research Conference, 2001
National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career (CAREER) Award recipient, 2001
Inducted to Sigma Xi International Research Honor Society, 2000
Inducted to Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, 1986

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Absorbable polymers
Biofabrication
Effective mentoring
Regenerative engineering
Science and engineering education
Translation of research
3D tissue test systems

PUBLICATIONS

‪Karen JL Burg – ‪Google Scholar

Books

Engineering 3D Tissue Test Systems, KJL Burg, D Dréau, TC Burg, CRC Press, 2017.
Polymers for Vascular and Urogenital Applications, SW Shalaby, KJL Burg, and WSW Shalaby, CRC Press, 2012.
Absorbable and Biodegradable Polymers, SW Shalaby and KJL Burg, CRC Press, 2004.

Training Courses

Research Experience and Mentoring Modules, KJL Burg, JA Gilmore, TC Burg, http://www.eqpoint.info/ , 2019. Curricular series, focused on introducing professional skills to novice researchers. Content adapted for broad dissemination through the National Research Mentoring Network, https://nrmnet.net/, Launching Research Course Series, 2022.
National Research Mentoring Network Launching Research Part 1: Laboratory Readiness
National Research Mentoring Network Launching Research Part 2: Tools for Organization and Investigation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Materials Transport Device for Diagnostic Application, S Tabbaa, KJL Burg, US Patent 9,849,452 (to University of Georgia), Issued 12/26/17.
Materials Transport Device for Tissue Engineering Application, S Tabbaa, KJL Burg, US Patent 10,933,412 (to University of Georgia), Issued 3/2/21.
Tissue Engineering on the Dome (to Clemson University), F Alexis, KJL Burg, K-12 short film for planetarium use, disclosure 2012, film produced, 2014.
Anchored Multi-Phasic Osteochondral Construct (to Clemson University), S Maxson, KJL Burg, US Patent 9,475,531 (Clemson University), Issued 7/2/13.
Call Me Doctor, trademark application 2007, US Trademark 3,928,778 registered 2011.
Three-Dimensional Ex Vivo System (diagnostic system), KJL Burg, C Yang, US Patent 8,293,531 (to Clemson University), Issued 10/23/12.
Tissue Engineering Composite, KJL Burg, US Patent 6,991,652 (to Clemson University), Issued 1/31/2006, option agreement 5/2009, option agreement 6/2012.
Co-Culture Bioreactor System, DE Orr, KJL Burg, US Patent 8,865,460 (to Clemson University), Issued 2014, license, 2008.
Absorbable Tissue Expander (method of tissue reconstruction), KJL Burg, CR Halberstadt, WD Holder, Jr, US Patent 6,666,893 (to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, reassigned to Clemson University in 2010), Issued 12/23/2003.
Apparatus and Method for Biomaterial Assay (to Clemson University), M Gevaert, KJL Burg, US Patent 7,118,909 (to Clemson University), Issued 10/10/2006. Featured in Red Herring, Innovation Pipeline, Issued 2005, license, 2008.
Absorbable Tissue Expander (device), KJL Burg, CR Halberstadt, WD Holder, Jr, U.S. Patent 6,206,930 (to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, reassigned to Clemson University in 2010), Issued 3/27/01.

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