John Allen Burns honored with emeritus status
John Allen Burns, professor of mathematics in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of the Hatcher Professor Emeritus of Mathematics by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 50 years, Burns made significant research contributions to the concern of the development of rigorous and practical computational algorithms for control, optimization, and design and sensitivity analysis of engineering and biological systems.
His research applied to a wide variety of areas including fluid dynamics, smart materials, large space structures, nano-devices, aerodynamics, mathematical biology, and energy efficient buildings. In addition, he disseminated his results in nearly 200 papers and numerous talks delivered in at least 23 countries and five continents.
Burns served the university and professional communities as director of the Center for Optimal Design and Control, technical director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics, and program advisor for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
He held visiting appointments at the University of Graz, Clemson University, the University of Trier, and the University of Southern California, as well as consulting positions at over six private or governmental firms.
Throughout his career, Burns was a patient teacher and doctoral advisor who provided guidance and mentoring to students at all levels, including supervising the Ph.D. theses of more than 24 students.
Burns received his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
Written by Emily Southern, a senior majoring in multimedia journalism and student writer for Virginia Tech Marketing and Communications
