Biography

Dr. Mark Burke graduated from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with an undergraduate degree in psychology. He then went on to complete his doctoral degree in biology at McGill University with a post-doctoral fellowship at University of Montreal. He is currently an Associate Professor at Howard University, the Co-Director of the Developmental Core of the DC Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), Program Director of the DC CFAR, Pathway Program and Editor-in-Chief of the Neurodevelopmental Section of the journal Brain Sciences.  His research focuses on neurodevelopment and the effects of developmental intrusions in non-human primates, such as hemispherectomies, fetal alcohol exposure, post-natal Zika infection and pediatric HIV infection.  Dr. Burke collaborates with faculty from McGill University, University of Montreal, University of North Carolina, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, Emory University and University of California at Davis.

During his time at Howard University, Dr. Burke has been a strong proponent of providing research and mentorship opportunities to students. Over the past 14 years he has trained medical students, graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. He was a key member in the development of the FYRE Program (First Year Research Experience) of the Leadership Alliance. Dr. Burke mentors students through the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Program at Howard University, the STEP-UP Program and receives high school students from Science and Technology Programs at Charles Herbert Flowers and Eleanor Roosevelt High Schools in Prince Georges County Maryland. The research opportunities afforded to his high school and undergraduate students positioned them for competitive applications to professional schools (medical, dental and graduate) and undergraduate programs (e.g. acceptance into Howard University, University of Maryland, Hampton University and Tulane’s BS/MD program). His students have been awarded the Luard Scholarship, Fulbright Scholarship, and have been placed in summer internships through the MARC Star program (e.g. Harvard University and University of Kentucky), and Leadership Alliance Program. As part of his position at the DC CFAR, Dr. Burke has actively participated in Mentoring the Mentor activities and is developing a formalized mentoring program that benefit faculty and students alike within the DC CFAR network. Dr. Burke has been recognized for his mentorship by the National Minority Access and Washington Baltimore Hampton Roads Louis Stokes Alliance organizations. Dr. Burke has also served as the co-Chair of the Biological Sciences Panel for the Ford Fellowships Program through the National Academy of Sciences.