Paul Burke

Dr. Paul Burke is the instructor and curriculum developer for Computational Fluid Dynamics in Johns Hopkins University’s Whiting School of Engineering’s Mechanical Engineering Department. The course (EN.535.735) is a graduate-level course, covering the fundamental theory, development, and application of CFD solvers.

Dr. Burke is also a computational physicist within Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab’s Space Exploration Sector, where he serves as an international expert in the area of multi-phase fluid dynamics in variable gravity environments. He has applied expertise to study ocean worlds, astrobiology, human space exploration, asteroid impactor modeling, and In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). ISRU research includes leading work sponsored by the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, to develop Computational Fluid Dynamic models of Molten Lunar Regolith Electrolysis to extract oxygen and metals. Dr. Burke’s work has directly supported multiple interplanetary and heliophysics missions, including NASA’s Europa Clipper, the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), Dragonfly, Solar Dynamic Observatory, and Parker Solar Probe. 

Dr. Burke is a generalist with broad research experiences. He has modeled planetary defense systems, astrodynamics, chaotic systems, spacecraft instruments, laser ablation, and human systems, including aortic blood flow. Supporting the broader physics community, he is a member of NASA’s Fundamental Physics Program Analysis Group.

For undergrad, he attended the University of Virginia, where he double majored in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Science, and double minored in Applied Mathematics and Materials Science and Engineering. Dr. Burke received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University. His personal and career interests revolve heavily around human spaceflight.

Beyond technical experience, Dr. Burke has served as a strategic advisor and reviewer, including NASA review panels, NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (DARES) Task Force 1, internal APL strategic advisory groups, and as a mentor of early-career staff.

Education History

• B.S., Aerospace Engineering & Engineering Science, University of Virginia
• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University

Work Experience

Senior Professional Staff, JHU Applied Physics Laboratory

Publications

1. P. A. Burke, B. L. Ehlmann, A.V. Steckel, J. Masiero, M. Brozovic, T. J. W. Lazio, L. Robinson, R. Strauss, D. Trilling, S. Fajardo-Acosta, G. Lantoine, R. Klima. Determination of Lunar Trailblazer’s Spin State using Ground-Based Optical and Radar Observations. Earth and Space Science. Under Review. 2026. doi: 10.10/292025EA004737

2. B. L. Ehlmann , J. Bellerose, G. Lantoine, E. Furlan, E. Scire, S. Fajardo‐Acosta, L. Bennett, M. Sanchez Net, T. J. W. Lazio, M. Brozovic, J. Masiero, A. V. Steckel, P. A. Burke, M. Kimura, S. Foxman, M. P. M. Zaw, L. M. Lee, F. Clarke, M. Hauge, D. McDonald, J. Adler, R. Strauss, D. Trilling, C. S. Edwards, M. C. Nolan, D. Lyster, L. Robinson, A. T. Klesh, and C. C. Seybold. Lunar Trailblazer Spacecraft Tracking and Mission Recovery Attempt: Characterization of Status and Behavior of a Non‐Cooperative Object in Cis‐Lunar Space. Earth and Space Science, 13, e2025EA004734. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EA004734

3. Burke, Paul A., Sudakow, Ivan, Marnocha, Cassandra L., Pearce, Ben K.D. Development of Image Analysis Tools to Detect and Characterize Biotic vs. Abiotic Movement. Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon). AGU. May 2026.

4. Toy-Edens, Vicki L., Burke, Paul A. Biosignature and Technosignature Detection using Transfer Learning and Image Recognition Model. Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon). AGU. May 2026.

5. Burke, Paul A., Sudakow, Ivan, Marnocha, Cassandra L., Pearce, Ben K.D. TrailCam: Assessing Movement and Growth as Agnostic Biosignatures. Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon). AGU. May 2026.

6. Garrell, Caitlin M., Ashbaugh, Sierra M., Burke, Paul A., Sudakow, Ivan, Pearce, Ben K.D. Marnocha, Cassandra L. Quantifying flagellar motility patterns in bacteria to inform agnostic biosignature detection. Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon). AGU. May 2026.

7. Minich, Gretchen K., Pearce, Ben K.D. Marnocha, Cassandra L., Burke, Paul A., Sudakow, Ivan. Flagellar-Driven Angular Velocity as a Candidate Agnostic Biosignature. Astrobiology Science Conference (AbSciCon). AGU. May 2026.

8. Burke, Paul A., Pascual, Antonio M., Owen, Paige, Rochett, Michel, Venkatesh, Bharath A. Development of a Two-Way Coupled Fluid-Structure Interaction Model for Aortic Blood Flow. ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Meeting. (June 2026).

9. Venkatesh, Bharath A.; Burke, Paul A.; Dietz, Hal; MacCarrick, Gretchen; Guerrerio, Anthony; Zimmerman, Stefan; Lima, Joao. Aortic Tortuosity as a Predictor of Surgical Timing and Mortality in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome. Radiology. Under review (July 2025).

10. N. R. Izenberg, D. M. Gentry, T. D. Curtis, P. A. Burke, K. McGouldrick, K. B. Stevenson, S. R. Kane, R. Mogul, P. K. Byrne, T. A. Nordheim, M. J. Way. Atmospheres as Habitats. Astrobiology. Under Review. 2025.

11. Kinczyk, Mallory J., Burke, Paul A., Meidenbauer, Daniel M., Shin, Anna K. F., Jaburek, Kristin L., Gerger, Andrew. Lunar Operating Guidelines for Infrastructure Consortium (LOGIC) In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) Working Group Overview and Update. Conference Proceedings. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO. 2026.

12. Burke, Paul A., Coburger, Anthony, Berdis, Jodi R., Miller, Richard S., Rotunda, Nicholas A., Hibbitts, Charles A. Oxygen from Regolith (O2fR) Collaborative Systems Interface Study: Implications for Lunar Infrastructure. Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC) Spring Meeting. Laurel, MD. 2026.

13. A. L. Coburger, N. A. Rotunda, C. Hibbitts, R. Miller, J. Berdis, P. Burke, M. Kinczyk, S. Santini De Leon, M. Graziano, B. Schratz, S. A. Q. Young, J. Gehrett. Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII): Integrated Studies across ISRU, Surface Power and Crosscutting Capabilities. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO. June 2026.

14. Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A., Coburger, Anthony, Burke, Paul A., Miller, Richard S., Minczyk, Mallory. Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium ISRU Capability Area Updates. Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. Laurel, MD, January 6-8, 2026.

15. Burke, Paul A. Distinguishing Biotic from Abiotic via Detection and Characterization of Movement. Conference Proceedings. Exploring the Abiotic Background for Life Detection Workshop. Washington, D.C, April 1, 2025.

16. Burke, Paul A.; Coburger, Anthony; Nord, Michael; Berdis, Jodi; Miller, Richard; Hibbitts, Charles A. Key Findings and Path Forward from the Oxygen from Regolith (O2fR) Collaborative Systems Interface Study. Conference Proceedings. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO, June 04, 2025.

17. Berdis, Jodi; Coburger, Anthony; Hibbitts, Charles A.; Burke, Paul A.; Miller, Richard; Nord, Michael. The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium In-Situ Resource Utilization Group: Status Update and Path Forward. Conference Proceedings. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO, June 03, 2025.

18. Kinczyk, Mallory J.; Meidenbauer, Daniel M.; Shin, Anna K. F.; Jaburek, Kristin L.; Burke, Paul A. Lunar Operating Guidelines for Infrastructure Consortium Overview and Progress Towards Standards Recommendations for In-Situ Resource Utilization as Applied to the Moon. Conference Proceedings. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO, June 04, 2025.

19. Hibbitts, Charles A.; Berdis, Jodi; Coburger, Anthony; Nord, Michael; Miller, Richard; Burke, Paul A. NASA STMD LSII ISRU Focus Group Update and Path Forward. Conference Proceedings. Space Resources Week (SRW). Luxembourg, May 20, 2025.

20. Burke, Paul A. Luna: Earth’s Abiotic Partner. 2025 NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (DARES) Whitepaper. March 2025.

21. Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A., Coburger, Anthony, Nord, Michael E., Miller, Richard S., Burke, Paul A., NASA STMD Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium In-Situ Resource Utilization Focus Group: Update and Path Forward. Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group. Artemis and Exploration Activities Session. Houston, TX, October 28 – 30, 2024.

22. Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A., Nord, Michael E., Miller, Richard S., Burke, Paul A., Coburger, Anthony. LSIC ISRU Focus Group Updates. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO. June 3-7, 2024.

23. Coburger, Anthony, Nord, Michael E., Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A., Miller, Richard S., Burke, Paul A. LSIC Oxygen from Regolith (O2FR) Systems Engineering Framework. Space Resources Roundtable. Golden, CO. June 3-7, 2024.

24. Barnouin, Olivier S., Ballouz, Ronald L., Burke, Paul A., Toy-Edens, Vicki L., Daly, Ronald T., DellaGiustina, Dani M., Bierhaus, Edward B., Baba, Mitsuhisa. Investigating Experimentally Gas-Based Excavation of Regolith Surfaces with Applications for the Exploration of Apophis. Apophis T-5 Years: Knowledge Opportunity for the Science of Planetary Defense. Noordwijk, The Netherlands. April 22–23, 2024.

25. Burke, Paul A., Nord, Michael E., Hibbitts, Charles A. Studying the Utility of Molten Regolith Electrolysis in Lunar, Martian, and Terrestrial Environments. Space Resources Week. Luxembourg. March 27, 2024.

26. Burke, Paul A., Nord, Michael E., Hibbitts, Charles A. Feasibility of Electrolytic Systems in Reduced Gravity: Lessons Learned from Modeling the Electrolysis of Water, Molten Salt, and Molten Regolith on the Moon and Mars. Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery (ASCEND) Conference, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Las Vegas, NV, July, 2024.

27. Burke, Paul A., Nord, Michael E., Hibbitts, Charles A., Berdis, Jodi R. Modeling Electrolysis in Reduced Gravity: Producing Oxygen from In-Situ Resources at the Moon and Beyond. Frontiers in Space Technology, 5:1304579. doi: 10.3389/frspt.2024.1304579. April 2, 2024.

28. Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A., Nord, Michael E., Miller, Richard S., Burke, Paul A., Smith, Dave, John, Jeremy W., NASA STMD LSII/LSIC ISRU Focus Group Update and Path Forward. Annual Meeting of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, Lessons Learned in the Current Era of Lunar Exploration Session. Laurel, MD, September 20 – 22, 2023. hou.usra.edu/meetings/leag2023/pdf/2948.pdf

29. Burke, Paul A., Nord, Michael E., Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A. Oxygen Production on the Lunar Surface: Modeling Molten Regolith Electrolysis and Water Electrolysis at Reduced Gravity Levels. 2023 Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery (ASCEND) Conference, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Las Vegas, NV, October 17, 2023. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2023-4793.

30. Burke, Paul A., Nord, Michael E., Berdis, Jodi R., Hibbitts, Charles A. Exploring the Challenges of Molten Regolith Electrolysis and Oxygen Production on the Lunar Surface. Space Resources Roundtable, Metals and Melts Session. Golden, CO, June 6 – 9, 2023.

31. Berdis, Jodi R., Nord, Michael E., Hibbitts, Charles A., Miller, Richard S., Burke, Paul A., Smith, Dave, John, Jeremy W., Trop, Claire C. The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium ISRU Focus Group. Space Resources Roundtable, National Plans & Priorities Session. Golden, CO, June 6 – 9, 2023.

32. Burke, Paul A., Waller, Dany C. The Influence of Gravity and Magnetic Fields on Brine Formation and Habitability Across the Solar System. Conference Proceedings. Brines Across the Solar System: Ancient and Future Brines. USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute. Reno, NV, May 16, 2023. hou.usra.edu/meetings/ancientfuturebrines2023/pdf/2012.pdf

33. Lomax, Bethany A., Just, Gunter H., McHugh, Patrick J., Broadley, Paul K., Hutchings, Gregory C., Burke, Paul A., Roy, Matthew J., Smith, Katharine L., Symes, Mark D. Predicting the efficiency of oxygen-evolving electrolysis on the Moon and Mars. Nature Communications Vol. 13, 583 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28147-5

34. Burke, Paul Andrew, Dunbar, Bonnie J. CFD Models of Two-Phase Fluid Physics Across The Gravity Continuum: Effects of Solid Surface Energy and Liquid Properties. Conference Proceedings. 2021 American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Conference. Baltimore, MD, November 3-6, 2021.

35. Burke, Paul A., Dunbar, Bonnie J. Development of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) Models of the Formation and Buoyancy-Driven Detachment of Bubbles in Variable Gravity Environments. 2021 AIAA SciTech Forum, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Nashville, TN, January 11-15, 2021. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2021-1838

36. Burke, Paul Andrew. The Democratization and Future Ubiquity of STEM Education. Symposium on Imagining the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Washington, DC, November 12-19, 2020. cdn.filestackcontent.com/y5UTY8jRQkCdZK28VmFl?burke.pdf

37. Burke, Paul Andrew; Varnum-Lowry, Daniel; Dunbar, Bonnie J. Microgravity and Partial Gravity Fluid Physics: An Experimental and Computational Study of Bubble Formation and Detachment. The 2020 International Space Station Research and Development Conference. September 23, 2020.

38. Hall, Dillon C.; Dunbar, Bonnie J.; Burke, Paul A.; Hajda, Callen J. Range of Motion (ROM) Analysis for Pressure Garments (EVA and LES) using 3D Photogrammetric Motion Capture. 50th International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES). Lisbon, Portugal, July 12-16, 2020. https://hdl.handle.net/2346/86475

39. Burke, Paul Andrew; Varnum-Lowry, Daniel; Dunbar, Bonnie J. Microgravity and Partial Gravity Fluid Physics: Bubble Formation and Movement in Variable Gravity Environments. The 2019 International Space Station Research and Development Conference. Atlanta, GA, July 31, 2019.

40. Burke, Paul Andrew; et al. Use of Logistics Nodes in Cargo Missions to Mars. Presented and published at the 2017 AIAA Region I Student Conference. Charlottesville, VA, 2017.

41. Burke, Paul Andrew. Virginia CubeSat Constellation (VCC) Mission: An Examination of Atmospheric Drag and Orbital Decay of a Constellation of CubeSats. Senior Technical Thesis. University of Virginia, 2017.

42. Burke, Paul Andrew. Public and Private: Explaining NASA’s Support. Senior Research Thesis. University of Virginia, 2017.

43. Jodi Berdis, Karl Hibbitts, Rick Miller, Mallory Kinczyk, Anthony Coburger, Paul Burke, Nick Rotunda. Lunar Water Ice: Implications for Extraction and Processing Technologies. Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, Systems Integration. Study Report. 2016.

Honors and Awards

• Selected as 1 of 76 “outstanding early career engineers” to participate in the 2024 National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Symposium (2024)
• Selected as a Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL) Sabbatical Fellow (2024)
• Served at Principal Investigator for proposal which won funding as part of the JHU APL’s Space Exploration Sector Quick Innovation Initiative (2023)
• Journal article selected as one of 50 best papers published in “Energy” Research Area, Nature Communications (2022)
• Texas A&M Ph.D. Graduate Excellence Full-Tuition Fellowship (2021)
• Paper selected as winner of The National Academies’ Idea Competition for the Symposium on Imagining the Future of Undergraduate STEM Education (2020)
• 1st place in the graduate and undergraduate division of the 2019 International Space Station Research and Development (ISS R&D) Conference Poster Competition (2019)
• Raven Society (Academic Honor Society at the University of Virginia) (2016)

Professional Organizations

NASA’s Fundamental Physics Program Analysis Group
Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC)
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Research Software Engineering Conference 2024
NASA Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (DARES) Task Force 1