Carol Burns

Carol Burns

Carol Burns is Deputy Director for Research and Chief Research Officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab), a Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science lab managed by University of California. She is responsible for the development, implementation, and stewardship of Berkeley Lab’s research enterprise, and oversight of enabling functions, including technology transfer and strategic partnerships. She serves as the Lab’s liaison for research strategies with DOE and other federal agencies, universities, the other national labs, and other key partners.

Carol has served in leadership roles within the national laboratory system for more than 30 years, managing the execution of technical and research programs. She has deep experience leading the development and implementation of science and technology strategies, and has stewarded the development of external partnerships and programs for workforce development.

Burns is a recognized expert in f-element and radiochemistry with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and invited book chapters, and has served on a number of editorial boards, review boards, and advisory panels. She is the recipient of a number of awards for scientific achievement and leadership, including the American Chemical Society’s Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal, recognizing distinguished service in chemistry by women chemists. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

She has experience in science policy at the national level, having served as a senior policy analyst in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Burns received her B.A. in Chemistry from Rice University, and her Ph.D. in Chemistry as a Hertz Foundation Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley.