He holds a PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Recent publications include a collaboration with Rubén Medina on Una tribu de salvajes improvisando a las puertas del infierno: antología Beat, an extensive anthology of Beat poetry they compiled, translated into Spanish and annotated, published by Aldus/UANL in 2012. Dr. Burns has published in several journals such as 1616: Anuario de Literatura Comparada and International Film.