Rate My Professor Robert Burnap

Robert Burnap is a Regents Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in biology from the University of California at Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where his thesis focused on the evolution of the oxygenic photosynthetic mechanism. Following his doctorate, he completed postdoctoral training at Purdue University, specializing in the genetic manipulation of cyanobacteria and biophysical analysis of photosynthetic proteins. As a faculty member in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Burnap has advanced research and teaching in fundamental biological processes. He teaches courses including Cell and Molecular Biology, Bioenergetics, and Principles of Bioinformatics, mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. Burnap served as a rotating Program Director in the Division of Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry at the National Science Foundation, earning recognitions for leadership in ‘Advancing the New Biology’ and co-developing the US-United Kingdom Photosynthesis Ideas Lab. He holds the Vaughn O. Vennerberg II Chair of Bioinformatics and Molecular Genetics and was appointed Regents Professor in 2019. Additionally, he received the Regents Distinguished Research Award and an Einstein Fellowship in Germany for collaborative research.