Michael Burke’s research focuses on combining physics and data across multiple scales in complex reacting systems, where multiple reactions occur simultaneously. With regard to physics, the main goal is to understand how reactions take place in mixtures, particularly involving energized molecules that collide with many inert and reactive partners – a fundamental physical chemistry topic relevant to the chemistry of combustion and planetary atmospheres. With regard to data, the main goal is to make predictions with uncertainties informed by data from the molecular level to macroscopic level – both answering fundamental scientific questions and informing engineering design decisions in the presence of risk. Burke and his group apply these techniques to combustion and fuel oxidation with the goal of improving engine efficiencies, to pollutant formation with the goal of designing cleaner combustion devices, and to chemical weapons neutralization with the goal of eradicating chemical weapons.