Research Areas

The Burleson Global Design Group seeks to advance engineering design theory and methods so that solutions lead to improved social, economic, and environmental outcomes. We work towards this goal by conducting experimental and ethnographic human subjects research in local and global settings. Read more about our focus areas:

Design for People + Context

We study how engineers can design products and systems that fit the cultural, political, economic, and environmental contexts where they are used. Our work advances theory and methods for engaging diverse stakeholders, taking their perspectives into account, and incorporating contextual factors throughout all stages of design and implementation.

Broader Impacts of Engineering

We examine how engineering decisions shape social, environmental, and economic outcomes beyond technical performance. This area develops frameworks and metrics to help engineers identify, evaluate, and integrate social impact consideration, such as well-being, equity, and non-energy impacts, into design processes and validation methods.

Design Education + Practice

We explore how engineers and students learn to design for complex, real-world challenges. This includes studying patent literacy (the capacity for engineers to learn from patent documents during design), and how education can better prepare engineers for socially engaged, interdisciplinary work.

All Publications

  1. Balevic, E., Burleson, G. (2025). Volunteering in Humanitarian Engineering Projects: Motivations and Challenges Experienced by Students, Professionals, and Retirees. IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference. Golden, CO. Oct 22-25, 2025.

  2. Jung, D., Burleson, G., Bruns, C. (2025). An Analysis of Workloads Experienced by Scientists Working in the Chemical Wet Lab. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference. Anaheim, CA. Aug 17-20, 2025.

  3. Stancliff, M., Balevic, E., Brubaker, E.R., Burleson, G. (2025). From Dismissal to Adoption: Examining and Visualizing Stakeholder Perspective-Taking in Design. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference. Anaheim, CA. Aug 17-20, 2025.

  4. Burleson, G., Ostrowski, A.K., Brubaker, E.R., Loweth, R.P., Berdanier, C.G.P. (2025). Advancing Engineering Design Research Through the Use of Qualitative and Participatory Methodologies. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference. Anaheim, CA. Aug 17-20, 2025.

  5. Wilburn, O., Oswald, M., Rucker II, R., Mabey, C.S., Burleson, G. (2025). Integrating Affordance Mechanisms to Support Design for Well-Being: A Case Study of University Transportation. International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED).Dallas, TX. Aug 11-14, 2025.

  6. Reviewers Choice Award: Serrano, C., Burleson, G. (2025). Incorporating Contextual Factors in Back-End Design Stages: Development and Pilot Testing of the Contextual Product Testing Protocol. International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED). Dallas, TX. Aug 11-14, 2025.

  7. DEED Best Paper Finalist: Burleson, G., Harper, J. (2025). Connecting Academia and Industry: Piloting an Industry Mentor Program in a First-Year Engineering Design Course. American Society of Engineering Education Conference Proceedings. Montreal, CA. Jun 22-25, 2025.

  8. Burleson, G., Tsai, J. (2025). Investigating Preliminary Examination Practices in U.S. Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Programs. American Society of Engineering Education Conference Proceedings. Montreal, CA. Jun 22-25, 2025.

  9. Burleson, G. (2024). Beyond an Applied Natural Science: Leveraging Social Science and Design Science to Improve Engineering for Humanity. IEEE International Humanitarian Technologies Conference. Bari, Italy. Nov. 27-30, 2024.

  10. Burleson, G., Wojciechowski, L., Toyama, K., Sienko, K. (2024). Characterizing the use of contextual factors in engineering design: An exploration of global health designer practice. Design Science, 10(e36).

  11. Masood, A., Burleson, G. (2024). Investigating Community Engagement Practices in Short-Term Humanitarian Engineering Projects. IEEE Global Humanitarian Technologies Conference. Villanova, PA. Oct. 23-26, 2024.

  12. Myers, H.E.W., Mabey, C., Burleson, G. (2024). Applying Affordance Theory to Improve Design Practices for Physical, Mental, and Social Health Outcomes. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference. Washington, DC. Aug. 25-28, 2024.

  13. Burleson, G., Tsai, J., Kotys-Schwartz, D. (2024). Work in Progress: What is Design in the Context of a Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. Program? ASEE Rocky Mountain Section Region Conference. Boulder, CO. May 15-17, 2024.

  14. Burleson, G., Toyama, K., Sienko, K. (2024). Practitioner Case Studies Demonstrating the Incorporation of Contextual Factors during Global Health Design. International Journal of Engineering Education, 40(6), pp. 1402–1415.

  15. Burleson, G., Lajoie, J., Mabey, C., Sours, P., Ventrella, J., Peiffer, E., Stine, E., et al. (2023). Advancing Sustainable Development: Emerging Factors and Futures for the Engineering Field. Sustainability, 15(10), 7869.

  16. Sánchez-Parkinson, L., Moses, N., Burleson, G., Daly, S., Holloway, J., Conger, A,, Sienko., K., Meadows, L. (2023). Intercultural experiences of engineering students during immersive design projects. International Journal of Service Learning in Engineering, Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship. Vol. 18:1, pp. 35-51.

  17. Rodriguez, N. M., Burleson, G., Linnes, J. C., Sienko, K. (2023). Thinking beyond the device: An overview of human- and equity-centered approaches for improved health technology design. Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, 25.

  18. Burleson, G., Toyama, K., Sienko, K. (2023). Towards a Theoretical Framework for Using “Context” in Engineering Design Processes for Global Health Applications. ASME International Design Engineering Technical Conference. Boston, MA. Aug. 20-23, 2023.

  19. ICED Best Paper Award: Rieken, E., Bond, K., Best, R.M., Burleson, G., Brubaker, E.R. (2023). A Spectrum of Stakeholder Perspective Taking in Early-Stage Design. International Conference on Engineering Design. Bordeaux, France. July 24-28, 2023.

  20. DEED Best Paper Finalist: Burleson, G., Toyama, K., Sienko, K. (2023). Supporting Engineering Students’ Incorporation of “Context” into Global Health Design Processes. American Society of Engineering Education Conference Proceedings. Baltimore, MD. Jun 25-28, 2023.

  21. Burleson, G., Toyama, K., Sienko, K. (2023). Incorporating contextual factors into engineering design processes: An analysis of novice behavior. Journal of Mechanical Design. 145(2): 021401.

  22. Rodriguez-Calero, I., Daly, S., Burleson, G., Sienko, K. (2023). Prototyping strategies to engage stakeholders during front-end design: A study across three design domains. Journal of Mechanical Design. 145(4): 041413.

  23. Rodriguez-Calero, I., Daly, S., Burleson, G., Coulentianos, M., Sienko, K., (2022). Using practitioner strategies to support engineering students' intentional use of prototypes for stakeholder engagement during front-end design. International Journal of Engineering Education. Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 1923-1935.

Grace Burleson's Google Scholar Page