Brian McBurnett Ph.D.

Professor

Brian McBurnett Ph.D.

Dr. Brian McBurnett is a professor of chemistry and came to the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) in 2004 from previous teaching positions at Northern Arizona University, California State University-Chico, and the University of Oregon. At UIW, he has served as Department Chair, the Jones Endowed Research Chair, and was the director of new faculty mentoring. From 2007-2012 he was the principal investigator for a National Institutes of Health-EARDA grant entitled Enhancing Research Capabilities to Encourage Minorities in Scientific Professions and in 2012, he became a Fulbright Scholar in teaching and research at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Contact Information

  • Office Location: AT&T Science Center 442
  • Phone: (210) 805-1202
  • Email: mcburnet@uiwtx.edu
Dr. McBurnett received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and his B.S. in Chemistry from Texas A&M University.
Dr. McBurnett has held several academic positions throughout his career, including Visiting Professor at the University of Oregon, Lecturer at Northern Arizona University, Assistant Professor at California State University, Chico, and Professor at UIW. He has also held administrative positions, including Department Chair at UIW from 2006 to 2010 and again in 2012. He was also a CEIS Fulbright Scholar at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro in 2012.

Dr. McBurnett has taught a variety of courses, including Physical Chemistry, Chemical Principles, Science of Art, Inorganic Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, and General Chemistry.

Dr. McBurnett's research interests involve the interface between mathematics, arts, and science. He has combined art and chemistry in developing a Science of Art course for non-science majors that involves both art history and scientific analysis.

  • McBurnett, B. G. (2022). Development of learning objectives for a science of art course for nonscience majors. 2022 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, West Lafayette, Indiana.

  • McBurnett, B. G. & Lewis, P. (2022). Life is a candle: Connecting chemistry and philosophy in a cross-disciplinary learning community for undergraduate science majors. 2022 Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, West Lafayette, Indiana.

  • McBurnett, B. G. (2021). Using the History of Technology to Connect Art and Chemistry in a Science of Art Course for Nonscience Majors. ACS Symposium Series, 1386, 87-95.

  • McBurnett, B. G. (2019). Incorporating Paper Clicker (Plicker) Questions in General Chemistry Courses To Enhance Active Learning and Limit Distractions.  ACS Symposium Series, 1318, 177-182.