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As a dedicated polymath, my passion for innovation drives me to conduct interdisciplinary academic research that has exceeded $4 million dollars (as PI & CO-PI) and has contributed to knowledge.
Security, Political Science, Law & Policy Analysis, Transnational Criminal Organizations, Economics, Big Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Anthropology, Military History, Logistics, Supply Chain and Global Trade and Transport, Marketing, Anthropology, Ancient Greek and Roman HIstory, Linguistics, and Music Composition...
These are some of my proven capabilities. Keep exploring my site! Learn more information about my new research and published work.
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BIOGRAPHY
Prof. Maria Burns is an acclaimed author, which combines science, literary, and audiovisual work. She is a National Academies scholar and a proud Honorary Member of the US Coast Guard Aux.
A prolific author, she conducts multidisciplinary scientific research, but also history, literature, and audiovisual art ( ORCID ID : 0000-0002-5241-1501 ).
Her published work includes the books:
“Port Management & Operations” (2014); "Logistics & Transportation Security" (2016); “Managing Energy Security: a Critical Infrastructure guide to resilience (2019), and Maritime Security and Operations (2021).
In addition, she has developed numerous research and training manuals for the Government (DHS/CBP/USCG), but also the maritime and energy industries.
She is a valued researcher, with about $4,000,000 in Research Grants.
She is a principal investigator with the Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute, a DHS Center of Excellence.
A CO-PI with the Department of State, the Department of Energy, etc.
Since 2018 she leads a DHS-funded educational grant and is the lead course developer for a new Academic Program comprising Undergraduate, Graduate, and Certification/Continuing Education Programs.
Prof. Burns is a certified Maritime Auditor for Security (ISPS), Safety (ISM), Quality, and the Environment. She holds two Masters degrees, one in Maritime/International Trade and Transport (London Metropolitan University, UK), and one in Political Science (University of Houston). Her Doctoral research in Political Science (University of Houston) focuses on Human Trafficking and the activities of Transnational Criminal Organizations.
For Government Research, Intellectual Contribution, and Service to the Community
Awards & Recognitions
US Coast Guard Aux., Lifetime Honorary Member
"Port Management and Operations" Book is Ranked #3 among the "Seven Books to Better Understand the Shipping Industry," by the Maritime Executive Publishers &
Among the "Top 3 Maritime & Port Management Books" per the Marine Insight Journal.
Certificate of Excellence in Research, the University of Houston Provost's Office
Certificate of Excellence, the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
“Excellence in Emergency Management Award” by EMAT
Best Graduate Dissertation Award, Master of Science in International Trade & Transport from the London Metropolitan University, UK.
Best Dissertation Award from Taylor & Francis Publishers, UK for her Graduate Dissertation, LondonMet
Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Member
Published Research Papers
Selected work since 2008
2019 Ports of the Future: Why Security is the Measure of Port Intelligence
2019 Containerized cargo security at the U.S. – Mexico border: how supply chain vulnerabilities impact processing times at land ports of entry
2019 Participatory Operational & Security Assessment on Homeland Security Risks: An Empirical Research Method for Improving Security Beyond The Borders Through Public/Private Partnerships
2018 Cargo Theft and Logistics Security
2018 National Academies: The paradox of Energy Security
2016 Logistics and Transportation Security: A Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Guide to Resilience. Technical Presentation, TRB of the National Academies, Washington D.C., January 2016.
2014 A Texas Tale of Logistics and Transport in the Land “Where 17 Railroads Meet the Sea”, 100 Years on the Houston Ship Channel
2014 Assessing the Environmental Vulnerability Risks at major seaports: a comparative analysis between the major Ports of the US Gulf
2014 Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of the Ballast Water Treatment Management Regulations
2014 DHS: Supply Chain Security: A Strategy to Resilience through Policies, Partnerships, and Technologies. DHS Supply Chain Security Workshop
2014 National Academies: Security in Intermodal and Marine Transportation: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis
2014 Estimating the impact of maritime security: financial tradeoffs between security and efficiency
Burns, M. (2014a) Assessing the Vulnerability Risks at major seaports: a comparative analysis between the major Ports of the US Gulf, Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (Conference Proceedings).
Burns M. and Merryman, S. (2014b) Economic and Environmental Impact Assessment of the Ballast Water Treatment Management Regulations, International Association of Maritime Economists, Annual Conference, Norfolk VA, June 2014. Maritime Economics and Logistics, IAME Conference.
Burns M. (2014c) Ensuring Optimum Resilience in Marine Transportation: Extended Applications of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model and the Dynamic Risk Management Model. Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington DC (Conference Proceedings).
Burns M. (2014d) Supply Chain Security: A Strategy to Resilience through Policies, Partnerships, and Technologies. DHS Workshop for Supply Chain Security. Houston – April 23, 2014
Burns M., (2014e) Security in Intermodal and Marine Transportation: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis, TRB of the National Academies, Washington D.C., January 2014.
Burns M. (2013a) The economic impact of Supply Chain Security : Financial tradeoffs between Supply Chain Security and Efficiency, Journal of Transportation Security; DOI:10.1007/s12198-013-0119-x, 2013a.
Burns M., (2013b) Supply Chain Security : Financial tradeoffs between Supply Chain Security and Efficiency, National Academies, Washington DC (Conference Proceedings), Washington DC, January 2013.
Burns M., (2013c) Effectiveness Evaluation of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model and the Dynamic Risk Management Model. National Academies, Washington DC, (Conference Proceedings), January 2013.
Burns M., (2013d) Economic Growth and Environmental Vulnerability: Assessing the Offshore Drilling and Seaports Activities in the US Gulf”, Deep Offshore Technology (DOT) International Conference, Houston-Texas, October 2013.
Burns, M. (2013e) Maritime Economic & Transportation Outlook: A New Era Ahead. Breakbulk Americas” – Executive Presentation, New Orleans, September 2013.
2013 National Academies: MSRAM. Effectiveness Evaluation of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model and the Dynamic Risk Management Model
2013 Strategic Environmental Assessment in the Offshore Industry: An Econometric and Empirical Study
2013 National Academies: Ensuring Optimum Resilience in Marine Transportation: Extended Applications of the Maritime Security Risk Analysis Model & the Dynamic Risk Management Model
2013 Literary anthroponymy: decοding the characters of Homer’s Odyssey
2008 Cerebral evolution: The making of a genius and the theory of intellectual motivators
Press & Media Mentions
Selected work
Maritime Book ranked #2 among the 'Top 8 Maritime & Port Management Books', The Maritime Insight newspaper. (2018)
Maritime book Ranked among the 'Top 3' among the 'Seven Books to Better Understand the Shipping Industry', The Maritime Executive Journal. (2017).
Reuters News: "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel" (2019).
NASDAQ Stock Exchange "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel," (2019).
CW39 Houston TV. "Hyperloop coming to Texas but not necessarily Houston" (2018)
Houstonia Magazine "Elon Musk’s Latest Project Could Come to Houston" (2018)
Safety4Sea "Potential low sulphur fuel shortages may appear in some ports"
Ship & Bunker News "Shortages of Compliant Fuel in Some Ports, Conference Hears"
Finance Yahoo "Vessels will avoid areas lacking cleaner maritime fuel"
Isocrates
"OF ALL OUR POSSESSIONS, WISDOM ALONE IS IMMORTAL"