Viktor Burlaka
Bio and Education
Viktor Burlaka, LMSW, PhD, is a tenured Full Professor in the Department of Social Work and Gerontology Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Trained at the University of Michigan in Social Work and Clinical Psychology, he conducts applied mixed-methods work that connects rigorous study design with real-world practice and evaluation. At UNCG, he teaches statistics and data analysis, research methods, and clinical practice with individuals and families, and he mentors students in designing and implementing research studies. He also provides leadership in the development of academic programs and curricula, including consulting and program-building work such as developing an online MSW program at Wayne State University and leading the development and launch of the psychology program at American University Kyiv. His work is strongly oriented toward implementation and knowledge translation, including building training programs and scalable learning resources and supporting capacity-building initiatives in the U.S. and across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In addition to his academic role, he maintains a private psychotherapy practice with children and families. Outside of work, he recharges by playing guitar and singing in a choir, reminding himself that harmony is easier to find in music than in most datasets.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-9134
Courses Taught (at UNCG)
- Social Work 626. Social Work Research Methods
- Social Work 225: Introduction to Social Work Data Analyses
- Social Work 350: Introduction to Social Work Data Analysis
- Social Work 411: Social Work Methods with Individuals and Families
Research Interests
- Trauma and mental health in war-affected populations (Ukraine)
- Mixed-methods research and implementation science
- Workforce training, capacity building, and service improvement
- Family dynamics, parenting, and youth well-being
Selected Publications
The full list can be found at:
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5202-9134
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=DKw9idUAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Viktor-Burlaka?ev=hdr_xprf
- Linskiy, I., Minko, O., Grinevich, E., Burlaka, V., Serdiuk, O. The registered incidence and prevalence of substance use disorders in Ukraine during the era of dramatic changes (1955–2023). Discover Public Health 23, 35 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-01357-8
- Burlaka, V., Shyrokonis, Y., Burlaka, J., Syvodied, I., Serdiuk, O., & Javanbakht, A. (2025). Adverse childhood experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder among Ukrainian college students: Mediating role of intimate partner violence and lifetime trauma experience. Current Psychology, 44(11), 10795–10806. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-07859-z
- Burlaka, V., Hong, J. S., Thornberg, R., Serdiuk, O., Panok, V., Danylenko, H., Ilchyshyn, N., Burlaka, J., & Jones, W. (2025). Parenting practices, bullying perpetration, and conduct problems among Ukrainian children. Child Abuse & Neglect, 161, 106508. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106508
- Hong, J.S., Zhang, S., Lee, N.Y., Burlaka, V., Burlaka, J., & Nooripour, R. (2025). Exploring Potential Pathways from Adverse Childhood Experiences to Bullying and Victimization: Implications for Clinical Practice and Policy. Clinical Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-025-01020-w
- Serdiuk, O., Burlaka, V., Markovska, A., Smith, C., Panok, V., Klochkov, V., & Javanbakht, A. (2025). Trauma exposure and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among youth and young adults during the Russia-Ukraine war. Journal of affective disorders, 391, 119944. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2025.119944