Burke received her B.S in biology from Middlebury College and her Ph.D in botany from the University of Wyoming.[2] At Middlebury College, Burke was planning on becoming an English major, but after taking a science class where they examined the role of photosynthesis in aquatic environments she became fascinated by the topic of environmental science. Soon after taking this class, Burke decided to switch her major to biology after realizing that she could spend her life working outside and be able to solve scientific mysteries as a profession.[3] After her time at Middlebury College she started a Ph.D. track at Dartmouth College. Here she planned on studying a phenomenon known as “fir waves,” where rows of balsam fir trees die collectively, forming arresting patterns across the landscape, but after her advisor moved to work at the University of Wyoming, Burke decided to move as well.[1] After finishing her Ph.D, she moved to Colorado State University where she started her professional career.
Burke has published over 150 peer reviewed articles, chapter, books and reports including the investigation of a significant project titled, "A Regional Assessment of Land Use Effects on Ecosystem Structure and Function in the Central Grasslands" from 1996-1999. This project had major implications for understanding and managing ecosystems in the central United States.[6]
Selected publications
The Importance of Land-Use Legacies to Ecology and Conservation (2003) BioScience, Vol 53, Issue 1, 77–88[7]
Texture, Climate, and Cultivation Effects on Soil Organic Matter Content in U.S. Grassland Soils (1989) Soil Science Society of America Journal, Vol. 53 No. 3, 800-805[8]
Global-Scale Similarities in Nitrogen Release Patterns During Long-Term Decomposition (2007) Science, Vol. 315, Issue 5810, 361-364[9]
ANPP Estimates From NDVI for the Central Grasslands Region of The United States (1997) Ecology, Vol. 78, No 3, 953-958[10]
Interactions Between Individual Plant Species and Soil Nutrient Status in Shortgrass Steppe (1995) Ecology, Vol. 76, No 4, 45-52[11]
additional publications can be found on her Google Scholar profile.[12]
Notable awards and honors
Her awards and honors include:
2019 Fellow, Ecological Society of America, for advancing our understanding of ecosystem processes, in particular nitrogen and carbon cycling in grasslands.[13][14]