Portrait image of Amy Burniston
Amy Burniston

Associate Professor

Contact Information

OFFICE: Hirt 300D
PHONE: 814-824-2437
About Dr. Burniston

    Dr. Burniston has taught at all Ƶapp University levels (associate, undergraduate, and graduate) across varying formats (traditional lecture-based courses, online courses, clinical courses, and traditional science labs). Across all of the varying courses, formats, and audiences, Dr. Burniston focuses on evidence-based practices to promote high student engagement and learning throughout her courses.

    Undergraduate Biology

    • BIO 130/131: Functional Human Biology Lecture and Lab 
    • BIO 120/121: Human Biology Lecture and Lab
    • Web BIO 120/121: Online Human Biology Lecture and Lab  
    • BIO 240/241: Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture and Lab
    • Web BIO 240/241: Online Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lecture and Lab 
    • BIO 250/251: Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lecture and Lab 
    • BIO 142/142: Cellular and Molecular Biology Lecture and Lab  
    • BIO 146: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology of Organisms Lecture
    • BIO 222: Animal Behavior

    Graduate Education

    • Middle Level Science and Math Methods 
    • EDUC 500: Foundations of Education 
    • EDUC 610: 21st Century Literacies 
    • EDUC 601: Critical Teaching Strategies 
    • EDUC 665: Clinical I 
    • EDUC 676: Thesis

    The duality of Dr. Burniston’s training and courses taught has lent itself to a similarly diverse array of research interests. In the field of biology, Dr. Burniston is interested in studying predator/prey interactions and their tertiary effects on Zoonotic host reservoir populations and the population genetics and migratory patterns of the eastern coyote. In the field of Education, Dr. Burniston’s research focuses on constructivist strategies, namely contextualized, case-based instruction. 

    • Burniston, A. (2020). Incorporating Case Studies into Biology Laboratory Exercies. Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) Conference- San Diego, CA
    • Burniston, A. (2020). Engagement and Learning. P4CE Bridges Conference- Cape May, NJ.
    • Burniston, A. (2017). The effects of case-based instruction on undergraduate biology students’ understanding of the nature of science. Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 1471.
    • Burniston, A. (2019). Molecular Forces of Student Engagement. Presented at the MAIS Conference, November 2019, Rome, Italy.
    • Burniston, A. (2019). Survival of the fittest: Ƶapp’s creations of a customizable graduate education option via a PLS partnership. Presented at the P4CE Conference, April 2019, Cape May, NJ.
    • Burniston, A. (2018). Screen-capturing Software to the Rescue: Utilizing screen-capturing software to stay on schedule and engage your students. CTE.
    • Burniston, A. (2017). Pluto who? Using historical CBI to enhance undergraduate biology students understanding of NOS. Poster presented at National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Conference, September, 2017. Buffalo, NY.
    • Burniston, A. (2017). The effects of case-based instruction on undergraduate biology students’ understanding of the Nature of Science. Poster presented at National Association of Biology Teachers Conference, November, 2017. Saint Louis, MO.
    • Burniston, A., Bennett, S. & Tuner, S. (2016). Life in the Lyme-Light: Borrelia burgdorferi hosts and reservoirs. Presented at he Christina Difonzo Biology Speaker Series. September, 2016, Erie, Pa.
    • Chrispen, T., Mullinger, A., Burniston, A. (2016). Assessing red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and coyote (Canis latrans) populations on Presque Isle State Park using remote sensing cameras: Year two. Poster presented at TREC Regional Science Consortium Symposium, October 2016, Erie, PA.
      • Received 2nd place award in undergraduate poster competition
    • Chrispen, T. & Burniston, A. (2017). Assessing red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and coyote (Canis latrans) populations on Presque Isle State Park using remote sensing cameras: Year two.
      • Poster presented at November, 2017, St Louis, MO.
    • King, Bailey & Burniston, A. (2019). Effects of computer simulations on learning outcomes in a chemistry class. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ
    • Pintur, T. & Burniston, A. (2019). Incorporating free-write journal prompts to increase
    • classroom engagement and discussion. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ.
    • Chrispen, T. & Burniston, A. (2019). VOSE Take 2. Rewriting a quantitative instrument for measuring students’ understanding of nature of science. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ.
    • Feasley, A. & Burniston, A. (2019). Practical applications of technology in the classroom.
      • Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ.
    • Warmington, S. & Burniston, A. (2019). Increasing literacy rates in the secondary English classroom: A guide to resources. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ.
    • Whelchel, E. & Burniston, A. (2019). Freedom of Tweets: Relating social media and the First Amendment to increase student engagement. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ
    • Broderick, S and Burniston, A. (2019). Effective technology integration into secondary
    • science classrooms. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2018, Cape May, NJ.
    • Uhlig, J. & Burniston, A. (2019). Is notetaking on the iPad beneficial for all students? The effects of iPad v. paper notes on student assessment. Poster presented at P4CE Conference, April 2019, Cape May, NJ.
    • Awarding Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
      • PASmart Advancing Grant
      • “STEM & vine” Afterschool Programming and Community Engagement (2021-2023)
      • Award: $500,000
      • Role: Director 
    • Awarding Agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
      • Troops to Teachers (2022-2023) 
      • Award: $100,000
      • Role: Principal Investigator/ Director 
    • Awarding agency: Pennsylvania Department of Education
      • Troops to Teachers (2019-2020) 
      • Award: $33,000
      • Role: Principal Investigator/ Director 
    • Awarding Agency: Regional Science Consortium Grant
      • The Fall of Small Mammal Predators and the Rise of the Black Legged Tick in Erie, County PA
      • Award: $1,100.00
      • Role: Principal Investigator
    • DCNR Permit for Research and/or Collection of State Park Resources
      • “Population Assessment of Canis Latrans and Vulpes vulpes using trail cameras on Presque Isle State Park”
      • Dec. 2014-Dec. 2015
    • DCNR Permit for Research and/or Collection of State Park Resources
      • Identification of Reservoir Species for the Blacklegged Tick (I. scapularis) on Presque Isle
      • Aug. 2014-Dec. 2014
    • Pennsylvania Game Commission Special Use Permit
      • Identification of Reservoir Species for the Blacklegged Tick on Presque Isle State Park Including Small Mammal Trapping 
      • May 2014-Nov. 2014