Kenzie Burns, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lafayette College, has been selected for Bucknell University’s 2026 “30 Under 30” class of honorees. Recognized in the “Industry Standout” category, Burns is being honored for her research contributions, academic publication record, and commitment to undergraduate mentorship.
Burns earned a B.S. in environmental engineering with a minor in French and Francophone studies from Bucknell in May 2020. She completed her Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in May 2025. Her doctoral research focused on bioelectrochemical systems designed for resource recovery from high-strength waste streams, specifically developing novel technologies for sustainable dairy manure treatment. Her ongoing research also examines the transport and distribution of anthropogenic contaminants across small watersheds.
During her graduate program at UW–Madison, Burns published several first-author papers in leading academic journals, secured multiple competitive research fellowships, and mentored more than 15 undergraduate students, two of whom went on to receive prestigious Fulbright and Hilldale fellowships.
Bucknell will highlight Burns and her fellow honorees through digital alumni outreach, website features, and speaking engagements throughout the year, concluding with a formal ceremony and reception during Bucknell’s Homecoming Weekend in October.