Dr. Barry L. Burks has been appointed vice chancellor for research and economic development by North Carolina A&T State University Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr., effective  July 1.  Burks replaces Dr. Celestine Ntuen who served as interim vice chancellor.

“Dr. Burks is an accomplished senior research manager who has over 30 years of experience working in a variety of technical fields spanning science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Martin.  “He is a visionary who has the expertise to strengthen our research programs as we make great strides to connect the university’s research to the business community and contribute to the economic competitiveness in the Triad, the state of North Carolina and the United States.”

Burks carries a broad perspective based on experience developing technology, leading projects and managing programs for the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, NASA, commercial nuclear industry, automated manufacturing industry and, most recently, university-based applied research.

Burks has served as associate director of the Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) at UNC Charlotte since July 2007.  His focus has been on growth of research and research infrastructure at UNC Charlotte and connecting the university’s research enterprise to the business community in North Carolina as well as national and international businesses.  From 1997-2007, Burks worked at TPG Applied Technology in Knoxville, Tenn., where he held several positions including vice president, president and senior technical program manager. Prior to that, he was employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a postdoctoral research associate in the physics division where he advanced through several staff and management positions in other divisions.

He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Nuclear Society (ANS), Robotics and Remote Systems Division, the ANS Fuel Cycle and Waste Management Division, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Robotics and Automation Society. He is the recipient of the ANS RRSD 2008 Ray Goertz Award for outstanding contributions to the field of nuclear applications of Robotics and Remote Systems.

Burks received his B.S. degree in physics and mathematics from Lynchburg College, M.S. in nuclear physics and Ph.D. in experimental nuclear physics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.