Dr. Burns is a Distinguished Professor in the Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science Department at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In this position Robert serves as the UT Precision Livestock Farming specialist with a 70% Extension appointment and a 30% Research appointment. Responsibilities include the application of technology to collect and analyze data to better monitor and manage animal production system components including animal environment, housing systems, feed and watering systems, manure collection, storage, treatment and application systems and other production system components.Prior to being named as a Distinguished Professor Dr. Burns served for a decade (2010-2015 Assistant Dean, 2015 – 2017 Associate Dean and 2017 -2020 Dean) in UT Extension Administration. As Dean Dr. Burns provided overall leadership and oversight to UT Extension including Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development and Community Economic Development educational programming across the state of Tennessee. Budget responsibilities included oversite of $78 million in annual funding and oversight of approximately 1,025 staff members. He was responsible for maintaining and developing partnerships with external organizations, state, federal and county government, as well as other University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) units. As Associate / Assistant Dean, Robert provided include guiding Extension specialists and agents to plan, develop, deliver and evaluate Agriculture and Natural Resources and Community Economic Development educational programming. Budget responsibilities include oversite of $13.5 million in annual funding and assist with prioritization of faculty salary lines. Before joining Extension Administration, Robert conducted applied research and Extension programming on manure storage and treatment systems, nutrient management and the quantification of air emissions from livestock and poultry production systems. Robert served as a member of the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering faculty at Iowa State University from 2004-2010, and as a member of the Agricultural Engineering faculty at the University of Tennessee from 1995-2004.