James G. Burkhart, PhD

Jim Burkhart received his bachelor of science degree form the University of Missouri in 1969 and following active military service returned there to complete a masters degree in physiology and chemistry. He received his doctoral degree in biochemistry and genetics from North Carolina State University in 1989. He has a broad range of research experience and expertise in mutagenesis, protein and nucleic acid chemistry, reproductive toxicology, transgenic research in mammalian and aquatic species, aquatic toxicology, and environmental chemistry.

He joined the Division of Genetic Toxicology, National Center for Toxicological Research as a research chemist in 1975 where he developed new methods for detecting biochemical variation among animals and offspring exposed to environmental mutagens. In 1978 he took a position as a research chemist in the Division of Intramural Research, National Institute Environmental Health Science, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina where he conducted genetic and reproductive toxicology research. He also held an adjunct appointment with the Duke University School of the Environment 1991-1994.

In 1994 he became head of the Environmental and Alternative Systems Group. He led efforts to development and implement multidisciplinary approaches to assessing the impact of environmental contaminants. He studied molecular mechanisms and the developmental impact of complex environmental exposures in aquatic species and mammals. He has worked with federal, state and local environmental and public health agencies on issues and research associated with contamination of aquatic ecosystems. He has considerable experience in environmental chemistry and the issues that integrate human health and environmental degradation. He has been active in review of research initiatives sponsored by both the state and federal agencies.

In 2002 he joined EHP as science editor with a goal of continuing to improve both the scientific quality of the journal and the review process. He also identifies areas of current and future interest in environmental health research and takes an active role in soliciting submissions from ongoing research programs.

Burkhart has received several NIH merit awards and has been invited to publish on use of environmental sentinels for hazard identification and risk assessment. He has been a frequent invited lecturer on complex mixtures, alternative species, and endocrine disruption including: metabolic variation and risk, Paris; transgenic markers in mammals and fish, Seoul; environmental factors in amphibian malformation, Washington, D.C.; complex endocrine disruption, Vienna, Zurich, and Gordon Research Conferences. He has published over 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals.