Maj. Alison Burke is an Assistant Professor of Biology and the Health Professions Adviser at Virginia Military Institute. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Virginia Tech, where she studied quorum sensing in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an emerging seafood-borne pathogen. Her research focuses on bacterial communication, bacteriophage therapy, and environmental microbiology, with current projects exploring phage-based methods to reduce Vibrio contamination in oysters and collaborative metagenomic studies of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
As VMI’s Health Professions Adviser, Maj. Burke mentors cadets pursuing medical, dental, veterinary, and other allied health-related careers. She provides individualized academic advising, helps students navigate application processes, and builds partnerships with professional programs including Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU, Virginia Commonwealth University, Mary Baldwin University, and Texas A&M University Military Medicine Program.
Maj. Burke is passionate about connecting students to meaningful research and experiential learning opportunities that prepare them for future careers in science and health. Her expertise includes molecular biology, microbial genomics, phage biology, and undergraduate research mentorship.