Join the Oleson and Trauernicht labs as an MS or PhD student working on modeling fire and ecosystem services. This is a fully funded 2 year McIntire-Stennis fellowship (with possibility of up to 5 years, pending funding). This is a joint project between Oleson lab (olesonlab.org) and Trauernicht lab (https://www.nrem-fire.org/).

Duties and Responsibilities:

Watersheds provide critical ecosystem goods and services that support human quality of life. In Hawaii, recurrent wildfires have reduced the extent of forested areas, with implications for ecosystem services derived from both upland and coastal environments. Understanding how and where fire-induced degradation impacts socially valuable ecosystem goods and services can aid watershed managers in identifying priority management actions and areas. Understanding the broader benefits and trade-offs of alternate watershed and fire management strategies can improve both conservation and economic outcomes. Managers considering alternate approaches to fire management require decision support tools to help quantify and map ecosystem service changes across the landscape from state changes due to fire. Managers also need decision tools to spatially prioritize fire suppression or other watershed restoration measures to maximize conservation outcomes.

This project will integrate fire prediction and land cover effect models with ecosystem service models into a novel decision support tool capable of assessing the broader benefits and trade-offs of various fire management strategies. The GA will: (1) develop ecosystem service models capable of assessing impact of fire and fire management measures in Hawaii; (2) couple ecosystem services models with fire prediction and land cover change models in a decision support tool capable of assessing the benefits of alternative fire management strategies, and (3) apply techniques derived from decision science to evaluate management alternatives. Initial duties include (but are not limited to) conducting literature reviews; identifying, collecting, organizing, quality controlling, processing, and properly managing secondary environmental, social, and economic data; developing, calibrating, and validating environmental models; analyzing data using appropriate statistical and other analytical techniques; building relationships with potential model users; writing manuscripts for publication; and producing reports and outreach materials. The GA is expected to perform other additional tasks as assigned. Duties also include collaborating and working with other researchers in an interdisciplinary environment.

Click here for more information.

The Air Quality Program's mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance the air quality of Washington to safeguard public health and the environment, and support high quality of life for current and future citizens.

Some of the key work activities of the Emission Inventory Specialist position include:

• Independently plans, researches, models (e.g. EPA's MOVES), conducts and updates the emissions inventory information to meet state and federal needs. This includes data gathering and recording, selection of appropriate emissions calculations, coordination with other air agencies, and data quality assurance.
• Provides modeling and data analysis in support of State Implementation Plans, permits, and special air quality studies.
• Provides technical assistance to the regulated community, Air Quality Program staff, government agencies, and consultants on emission inventory regulatory requirements, estimation methodologies, and point source reporting, and works with these entities to enhance Ecology's emissions inventory efforts.
• Works with program management, other emissions inventory staff, and program and agency computer programmers to ensure that databases designed for facility information are consistent with inventory requirements and meet the needs of the user community.
• Provides analysis of a wide variety of emissions inventory data to our Air Quality Program Leadership and staff statewide.
• Writes and edits technical reports for use in the program's strategic planning efforts.
• Briefs Program Leadership about emissions inventory status and presents results to stakeholders.

For more information click here.

This is a research scientist position and is classified under the scientist career plan. Research scientists have open-ended promotion potential. Research accomplishments and their impact on the duties and responsibilities of positions are evaluated periodically. The grade level is limited only by the individual's demonstrated ability to perform research of recognized importance to science and technology. Final grade level will be determined by a peer review panel. The purpose of the initial review panel is to determine the grade level upon entry into a position.

Candidates being considered for this research position should provide a list of publications for which you have been an author, co-author, or contributor. If providing curriculum vitae, please incorporate all resume requirements identified in the REQUIRED DOCUMENTS section of this announcement, or submit a supplemental resume which includes all information required in addition to the curriculum vitae.

The scientist will provide expertise in silviculture, modeling, and disturbance ecology research to a range of stakeholders and clients. The mission of the Land and Watershed Management (LWM) Program is to increase understanding of terrestrial, aquatic, and riparian ecosystems and their linkages to inform management and policy options and to develop tools to enhance or maintain the production of desired goods and services.

For more information click here.

Primary responsibility is to provide high quality and innovative educational programs for park visitors and the Lakewood community. Also provides patrol of park properties, enforcement of rules and ordinances, natural resources protection and preservation, and public safety for the park system. Carries out a variety of duties related to park management and environmental education as directed by the Park Supervisor.

Click here for more information.

Session Dates:

January 7, 2018 to January 26, 2018
February 4, 2018 to February 23, 2018
March 11, 2018 to March 30, 2018
April 15, 2018 to May 4, 2018
June 3, 2018 to June 22, 2018

The National Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Center (PFTC), located in Tallahassee, Florida, is an entity designed to give individuals an opportunity to increase their prescribed fire practitioner skills. The 20-day sessions are designed to help facilitate the completion of prescribed fire task books. The Center provides opportunities to participate in prescribed burns involving the lands of land management agencies in Florida and several surrounding states. A variety of applicable prescribed fire objectives and situations will be encountered in a field environment. Applications from disciplines other than fire management are strongly encouraged. While our primary mission is the training of individuals with task books related to RX quals the Center encourages all levels and disciplines of applicants who are interested in furthering their knowledge of prescribed fire.

Click here for more information.

Duties:

General duties include: Coordinating with the Prescribed Fire Team Leader, Assistant Fire Management Specialist, Fire Management Specialist, Wildlife Area Managers, Wildlife Biologists and Foresters to implement plans for restoration and maintenance of fire dependent fish and wildlife habitat; Conducting burn unit layout, fuels inventory, assisting with writing burn plans, and implementing restoration projects while supervising the Prescribed Burn Team.

• As an Assistant Burn Team Leader, this position will assist in supervising a Burn Team in implementation of a prescribed (Rx) burn program for fire-dependent dry forest ecosystems located on the Okanogan Wildlife Areas and other wildlife areas located primarily in Region 2 of North Central Washington, but may include any region in the state. Primary duties include:
• Burn unit layout and assessment: Fuels assessment and inventory using knowledge of various fuel types, fuel inventory methodology and protocol; burn unit size and configuration and topographic characteristics.
• Develops work plans for a crew of four (4) to ten (10) or more people including fuel and burn unit preparation, prescribed burn initiation and completion, and equipment maintenance.
• Assists in supervising a crew of three (3) or more people; makes recommendations for hiring; training staff and evaluates and corrects performance; develops individual employee training plans and documents qualifications according to NWCG standards.
• Provides for employee and public safety while implementing assigned projects including prescribed burning.

For a full position description click here.

The Alaska Fire Research Needs List is a prioritized list of fire research topics that has been produced by the Fire Research Development and Application Committee (FRDAC) since 2003. The current list was updated in August 2017. Its purpose is to identify and prioritize data needs of fire and land managers, promote awareness of these needs, and encourage researchers to develop projects that address them. This list is developed with input from member organizations of the Alaska Wildland Fire Coordinating Group (AWFCG).

The FRDAC encourages researchers to consider projects that address topics on the research needs list. AWFCG will selectively send letters of support for research proposals based on how well they meet the established criteria.

Please contact the FRDAC chairperson if you are interested in pursuing research topics on the list. The committee can provide valuable information regarding details about management needs, potential contacts, funding opportunities, and current efforts pertaining to the topic.

Essential Job Functions:

• Participates in the maintenance of forestry facilities and equipment.
• Pots, plants, transplants, fertilizes, sprays, prunes, and waters forestry stock.
• Maintains records and prepares reports regarding propagation, conducts emergency oak tree inspections, verifies oak tree reports, and conducts enforcement inspections.
• Participates in native plant propagation from seed collection to field planting.
• Serves as a working supervisor for small crews of unskilled workers comprised of court referrals or youth programs, performing fire hazard reduction, nursery maintenance, plant propagation, and other resource related projects, or serves as the liaison for such projects with supervised work crews.
• Operates and instructs others in the use of manual and power operated tools.
• Collects live fuel moisture samples; processes and prepares reports.
• Applies herbicides, insecticides, and other chemicals for purposes of vegetation management or forest nursery practices.
• Staffs the 24-hour visitor center at Henninger Flats, provides security, and gives assistance to visitors.
• Conducts field demonstrations, guided field unit tours, and conservation education programs.
• Performs in a logistical support capacity during designated emergency operations.
• Drives a truck or other automotive equipment in the performance of duties.
• Provides emergency medical assistance as required.

For more information click here.

The Ecosystem Restoration Scientist (ERS) will be the on-site lead for providing technical and scientific support for habitat management and restoration at Nachusa Grasslands, a 4,000-acre landscape of native and restored prairies, savannas, streams and wetlands in north-central Illinois. Nachusa Grasslands has emerged as the premier location for ecological restoration and management. The success of the project has also attracted significant scientific interest from faculty and students from numerous universities throughout the country as well as state and federal agencies. The ERS ensures that the most beneficial, applied science is conducted and that it is executed in a manner that maximizes its value to Nachusa Grasslands and TNC over the long term.

Essential Functions:

The Ecosystem Restoration Scientist coordinates with external scientific partners, TNC staff, and stewardship volunteers to design and implement a high-impact research program that supports/enhances on-site management and restoration efforts while further developing Nachusa’s status as the premier site for tallgrass prairie restoration research. The ERS will oversee scientific surveys of endangered, threatened and unique plant and animal species at Nachusa Grasslands, collect and manage long-term monitoring data, and will be responsible for tracking and evaluating the results of multiyear research projects. S/he will report findings throughout the relevant science community by publishing in peer-reviewed journals, attending conferences, workshops, etc. While essential functions of the ERS are focused on science, s/he will also assist with prescribed fire, bison management, events, and engage with volunteer stewards, donors, neighbors, and the general public.

For more information click here.

Position Summary:

The Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society invites applications for a full-time (1.00 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

This position assists scientists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station and Oregon State University Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in conducting field- and laboratory-based research in fire ecology, plant ecology, and forest management in the interior Pacific Northwest. The incumbent analyzes data; prepares figures, tables, and reports for publication; and contributes to grant proposals, research study plans, and field crew training.

The position is funded for an initial period of 7-8 months, but may be extended depending on availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

For more information click here.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Primary responsibilities will be field work consisting of forest inventories, timber and boundary marking; collecting GPS field data, prescribed burning, logging supervision, planting supervision in addition to other detailed organizational skills with files and paper work.

REQUIREMENTS: We are seeking a highly motivated individual with the ability to work independently , as well as in a team environment. A minimum two year forestry degree is required. An additional 2 to 3 years’ experience in a similar forestry field is preferred. Computer skills and other digital skills will be necessary. Good written and verbal communication skills are required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Includes the ability to traverse distances over one mile on uneven terrain; work in outdoor forested areas for extended periods in a variety of environmental conditions; occasionally carry 5 to 10 pounds of equipment over longer distances for extended periods of time. Must be able to work independently during a work week and complete tasks in a timely manner. Must have an insurable driving record.

Click here for more information.

The Forest Stewardship Specialist provides field services and support statewide. Will serve as a liaison to cooperating agencies providing technical and financial assistance for the management and protection of native, riparian and planted forest resources. Duties include both office and field responsibilities promoting Forest Stewardship and related programs and directing landowner assistance to implement forestry best management practices. The Specialist assists the Stewardship Manager with technical and financial assistance to private landowners.

For more information click here.

Congratulations to this year's recipients!

Each year since 2007, the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) has awarded two graduate-level scholarships valued at $3,000 USD to Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Ph.D. students studying wildland fire or wildland fire-related topics. Student submitted essays are evaluated by an international panel of fire science experts and one award recipient is chosen for the Masters level and one for the Doctoral level. This year's winners are:

Paulina Llamas-Casillas, PhD student, Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington

Paulina Llamas-Casillas is a Ph.D. student from Mexico in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington.

Her research focuses on using different proxies to reconstruct multiple fire regime parameters, with the aim of understanding how humans and climatic anomalies influence fire regime at different spatio-temporal scales in the tropics and temperate forests.

Paulina worked as research assistant and instructor of fire ecology and management at the University of Guadalajara before starting her doctoral studies in Seattle. Paulina enjoys being a teaching assistant and mentoring students at the University of Washington.

In the future, Paulina wants to use her professional and academic experience to create international networks for fire ecology studies.

Marshall Stageberg, Master of Science, Geography, Michigan State University

Marshall received his Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from St. Cloud State University with minors in GIS and Computing in 2016.

He is now pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Geography at Michigan State University. He is working with collaborators at the USDA Forest Service, St. Cloud State University, and Michigan State University to investigate the complex flows that occur in the vicinity of a wildland fire, flows that are primarily driven by heat and moisture released from the fire. Since extreme conditions in the fire environment make collecting meteorological observations difficult, we employ a high-resolution numerical model to simulate the atmospheric responses to a fire. The numerical simulations will determine the sensitivity of fire-induced flows to the magnitude of the heat and moisture fluxes from the fire, and to atmospheric stability, moisture, and wind profiles. The results from this project will help us to better understand the sensitivity of the fire inflow/outflow patterns and the atmospheric perturbations to the characteristics of the fires.

The simulations, when combined with available observations, will enable us to diagnose fire-atmosphere interactions on scales that will help inform operational decision-making when managing both prescribed fires and wildfires.

The North Florida Conservation Forester provides technical leadership and support to the Florida Chapter and assists with local and regional longleaf pine ecosystem Forest Restoration planning efforts as well as forest science consultation as needed. The Conservation Forester uses the best science and current thinking on forest management and restoration to address critical forest restoration needs in the southeastern U. S. The Conservation Forester works with state, federal and private partners using a wide range of tools (e.g. Stewardship Authority and Good Neighbor Authority) to effect lasting, landscape scale longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. The Conservation Forester addresses critical threats to natural systems and individual species, fosters cross-site learning among conservation community, and supplies conservation planning teams with site or landscape level information relevant to the planning process. The Conservation Forester coordinates forest restoration community support both externally and within the Conservancy (i.e. locally, regionally, and World Office).  The Conservation Forester coordinates multiple projects, sets deadlines and manages to completion.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 30, 2017.

Joint Fire Science Program has announced that the final decision regarding FY18 topic selection for the Funding Opportunity Notice has been delayed and will not be made until fall 2017. 

For the full announcement, click HERE.

Responsibilities:

• Researching and/or writing in-depth material on environmental topics that are complex, highly technical and strategic in nature.
• Utilizing expert knowledge of air quality laws, regulations, and standards (i.e., Federal Clean Air Act of 1970 and Section 112 (Title III) to provide oversight and advisory service to an installation on its air quality program
• Ensuring facilities acquisition procedures and overall system requirements are aligned with environmental protection standards.
• Solving a wide variety of technical issues for an installation's air quality program.

For more information click here.

Duties and Responsibilities: This position will foster the mutual conservation objectives of Pheasants Forever (PF), Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP), and The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) by developing bird habitat on lands owned by USFWS and MTFWP throughout the Mission Valley, Montana. The Habitat Specialist will physically enhance habitat on partner owned public lands by planting and cultivating small grain crops and native grass/forb mixes, and other duties associated with habitat enhancement projects. These cooperatively funded positions will receive weekly work direction from USFWS employees at the National Bison Range and MTFWP managers at Ninepipes Wildlife Management Area.

Onsite work will include, but will not be limited to: small and large equipment operation, equipment transport, site preparation, seed mixing & planting, mechanical & chemical weed control, tillage and mowing practices, water manipulation, fencing, posting and signing, livestock management practices, controlled burning and other agricultural practices. The ability and willingness to work long hours during crucial periods of the growing season, and coordinating work activities with the partners is required. Administrative duties will include, but not be limited to; detailed record keeping, accomplishment reporting, time and budget management, procurement of materials, and coordination with and assisting USFWS & MTFWP staff with area management plans. Pheasants Forever organizational training will be provided by Habitat Forever LLC and PF National Office. USFWS equipment training and certifications will be provided by the National Bison Range certified instructor. Applicant must be able to obtain USFWS equipment operation certificate through successful completion of DOI courses provided by NBR certified instructor. Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks will provide training and direction for equipment use on MTFWP WMA.

For more information click here.

The Ecosystem Restoration Scientist coordinates with external scientific partners, TNC staff, and stewardship volunteers to design and implement a high-impact research program that supports/enhances on-site management and restoration efforts while further developing Nachusa’s status as the premier site for tallgrass prairie restoration research.  The ERS will oversee scientific surveys of endangered, threatened and unique plant and animal species at Nachusa Grasslands, collect and manage long-term monitoring data, and will be responsible for tracking and evaluating the results of multiyear research projects.  S/he will report findings throughout the relevant science community by publishing in peer-reviewed journals, attending conferences, workshops, etc. While essential functions of the ERS are focused on science, s/he will also assist with prescribed fire, bison management, events, and engage with volunteer stewards, donors, neighbors, and the general public.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, October 20, 2017.

UPDATE

The intent of this notice is to provide an update to investigators who are interested in potential research opportunities from JFSP.
 
Investigators should be aware that the final decision regarding FY18 topic selection has been delayed and will not be made until fall 2017.  One or more topics that have been described in the July 2017 Notice of Intent (NOI) may be dropped or included in the final notice, and the specific focus of individual topics may be altered. Investigators should recognize this uncertainty and not invest substantial time or resources working on proposals until the FONs and their associated topics are formally posted.
 
Investigators should not contact the JFSP Office or Governing Board members seeking further information on these topics. No further information will be released until the FONs are formally posted.
 
Those formal FON postings will be available on https://www.firescience.gov and investigators can subscribe to JFSP's weekly Friday Flash eNews where announcements will be made later this fall.

_________________________________________________

Original announcement:

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) will be requesting proposals through one or more formal Funding Opportunity Notice (FON) announcements beginning approximately early September 2017 and remaining open through November 16, 2017.

(Check the JFSP's Funding Announcements web page later for the funding announcement.)

This is an early alert to investigators interested in the topics listed below so you can begin considering responsive ideas with potential partners and collaborators.

Please recognize that final decisions regarding topic selection will not be made until September, 2017, and that final topic selection may differ from that posted below.

FON 1- Primary

• Ecological effects of fuel treatments and wildfire management at landscape scales
• Fuel treatment longevity
• Relationships between prescribed fire and wildfire regimes
• Effectiveness of fuel breaks and fuel break systems
• Sources and distribution of ignitions and their relation to wildfire impacts
• Socio-political factors that influence the costs associated with wildfire

FON 2 - Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) Award

In partnership with the Association for Fire Ecology, the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) will likely continue the Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) program for current master and doctoral students in the field of wildland fire and related physical, biological, and social sciences. The purpose of these awards is to enhance student exposure to the management and policy relevance of their research. As a result, these awards will enable graduate students to conduct research that will supplement and enhance the quality, scope, or applicability of their thesis or dissertation to develop information and products useful to managers and decision-makers.

Proposals must describe new, unfunded work that extends ongoing or planned research that is the subject of a thesis or dissertation that has been approved by the graduate student’s advisory committee. Proposals must be directly related to the mission and goals of JFSP to be considered, and they must address management- or policy-related questions related to one or more of the following general topic areas: fuels management and fire behavior, emissions and air quality, fire effects and post-fire recovery, relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire, or human dimensions of fire.

FON 3 - Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE)

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), in partnership with the Department of Defense, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), has completed planning for the Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE; Phase 1). It is anticipated that the JFSP September 2017 FON will include an open solicitation for proposals to participate in Phase 2—data collection, data archival, and initial model evaluation—of FASMEE. In brief, this experiment is being designed as a large-scale, interagency effort to (1) identify the critical measurements necessary to improve operational wildland fire and smoke prediction systems, (2) collect observations through coordinated field campaigns, and (3) use these measures and observations to advance science and modeling capabilities and utility to end users. FASMEE is aimed at modeling systems in operational use today as well as the next generation of modeling systems expected to become operationally useful in the next five to 10 years.

The FASMEE field campaigns are anticipated to be conducted as large operational prescribed fires targeting (1) heavier fuel loads and high-intensity fires, (2) large fires capable of producing significant atmospheric plume dynamics and a substantial downwind smoke plume, and (3) where possible (particularly in the West), free-running fire. Candidate sites include the Fishlake National Forest in Utah, North Kaibab Ranger District in Arizona, Fort Stewart in Georgia, and Savannah River Site in South Carolina. Research burns are planned for ignition no earlier than late summer 2019 and no later than early spring 2022. Depending on total funding availability, four or more burns are planned.

The Oak Openings Restoration Crew Leader leads a crew performing land restoration and management activities in the Oak Openings Region of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. This may include seed collecting, seed processing and planting, tree and brush removal, mowing, litter clean-ups, prescribed burning, and weed control using herbicide. He/she will be responsible for preparation and maintenance of tools and equipment. He/she will help plan restoration activities and maintain records using a PC or mobile device. This is a full time, short term position (approximately 9 months from starting date) that involves extensive outdoor physical labor in diverse weather conditions and may require working some weekends. A strong preference will be given to applicants who have previous wildland firefighting training or are willing to complete the training (online) prior to position beginning.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 21, 2017.

The Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, invites applications for a tenure-track, academic year position. Starting date is negotiable, but on or before September 13, 2018, is preferred. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate level courses, and graduate level courses in silviculture, forest practices & environmental protection, sustainable forest management, introduction to forest ecosystem management, dendrology, ecology & habitat management, and ecosystem management. The successful applicant is expected to develop an applied, field-based research program in silviculture and/or forest ecology with a focus on forest types common to California. This position will serve as a liaison between the NRES Department and the Director of Cal Poly's Swanton Pacific Ranch school forest in Santa Cruz County.

For more information click here.

This scientist position will serve as the agency's expert in forest health restoration science by developing evaluations at different scales (stand, watershed) to prioritize forest health treatments, monitoring forest health treatments and researching/publishing relevant subjects to advance the science of forest health restoration. This position will serve a key scientific leadership role for the agency as well as the state and region collaborating with scientific peers, natural resource managers, agencies, landowners and stakeholders to advance the science of forest health restoration and foster healthy, resilient forested landscapes. If you are a scientist that has proven experience managing natural resources, assessing forest health conditions and risk, developing forest health treatment plans and prescriptions, communicating complex scientific topics to technical and non-technical audiences, publishing research findings in refereed publications, and a passion and commitment to working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to create healthy, resilient forested landscapes we want to hear from you!

For more information click here.

The Burn Crew Member participates on prescribed burns throughout western North Carolina from October 23, 2017 (or as late as December 4, 2017) through April 20, 2018 (or as late as June 1, 2018). The Conservancy supports partner efforts on multiple controlled burns each year in which additional staff is requested.  This position is meant to help fill the gap of personnel for single or multi-day prescribed fire operations. Staffing needs for this position should average 2-4 operational periods bi-weekly and operational periods are at the discretion of the Southern Blue Ridge Stewardship Manager. Operational periods will likely be sporadic and clustered by opportune weather conditions, and no guarantee of a minimum number of opportunities is given or implied. Under supervision by a Burn Crew Coordinator or Stewardship Manager, Burn Crew members will participate in opportunities only as their own schedules will allow, and thus participation on any given opportunity is not required. 

The primary responsibility of the Burn Crew Member will be to assist in conducting prescribed burns with TNC partners such as state and federal agencies or on TNC preserves. Wildland fire operations may include fire line construction, holding, ignition, patrol, mop-up, and monitoring.  All TNC staff actively participating on a prescribed burn must meet FFT2 minimum qualification but do not need a red card. Individuals will be representing the Conservancy on partner burns and must act accordingly.

Individual is expected to provide some of their own personal protective equipment (Nomex pants, Nomex shirt, fire boots, hard hat) as outlined by the TNC fire management manual http://www.tncfiremanual.org/require.htm and provide their own transportation to the meeting location in Asheville.  TNC will provide radio and transportation from Asheville to the burn unit and return.   TNC can provide line pack, fire shelter, and radio harness if necessary.

Potential for assisting on forestry-related projects.

For more information and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 26, 2017.

The Burn Crew Coordinator participates on prescribed burns throughout western North Carolina from October 23, 2017 (or as late as December 4, 2017) through June 15, 2018. The Conservancy supports partner efforts on multiple controlled burns each year in which additional staff is requested.  Together with the 20-person as-needed burn crew, this position is meant to help fill the gap of personnel for single or multi-day prescribed fire operations. This position coordinates staff meeting, collection of equipment and travel to burn sites and routinely supervises other staff during burns.  Staffing needs for this position should average 2-4 operational periods bi-weekly and operational periods are at the discretion of the Southern Blue Ridge Stewardship Manager. Operational periods will likely be sporadic and clustered by opportune weather conditions, and no guarantee of a minimum number of opportunities is given or implied. The Burn Crew Coordinator and Burn Crew Members will participate on opportunities only as their own schedules will allow, and thus participation on any given opportunity is not required.

The primary responsibility of the Burn Crew Coordinator will be to: oversee communication with crew and determine availability; plan transport of crew to/from Asheville - work sites, preparing equipment (refill drip torches, sharpen hand tools, prep engine and pumps); supervise 4-8 FFTs (holding-firing) on TNC and partner prescribed burns. Wildland fire operations may include fireline construction, holding, ignition, patrol, mop-up, and monitoring. All TNC staff actively participating on a prescribed burn must meet FFT2 minimum qualifications but do not need a red card. Individuals will be representing the Conservancy on partner burns and must act accordingly.

Individual is expected to provide some of their own personal protective equipment (Nomex pants, Nomex shirt, fire boots, hard hat) as outlined by the TNC fire management manual http://www.tncfiremanual.org/require.htm and provide their own transportation to the meeting location in Asheville. TNC will provide radio and transportation from Asheville to the burn unit and return. TNC can provide line pack, fire shelter, and radio harness if necessary.

Potential for assisting on forestry-related projects.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 25, 2017.

Established in 2015 by Headwaters Economics and Wildfire Planning International, Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) works with communities to reduce wildfire risks through improved land use planning. CPAW is a grant-funded program providing communities with professional assistance from foresters, planners, economists and wildfire risk modelers to integrate wildfire mitigation into the development planning process. All services and recommendations are site-specific and come at no cost to the community.

Click here to apply to the CPAW program.

The NC Coastal Plain Prescribed Fire Crew Manager participates in preserve operations, restoration, maintenance, and management. This may include the following functions:

• Participates in prescribed fire and wildfire activities, which may include: burn unit prep, fire operations, managing staff and volunteers, maintenance of equipment and supplies, mop up, and monitoring.
• Participates in and manages restoration projects including thinning, planting, and other projects
• Maintains preserves and buildings, which may include: maintaining tools and equipment, repairing fences and gates, posting boundaries, and maintaining grounds and structures at historical sites.

The Prescribed Fire Crew Manager may assist on wildland fire operations in other parts of the Coastal Plain with federal, state, or private partners, or travel to other areas of the state or out-of-state to assist other TNC programs or partners on prescribed or wildland fires.  Housing is provided to fire crew staff.

There are 3 Rx Fire Crew Manager positions available at different hiring periods.  The positions are as follows: January-March (1 Position); January-April (1 Position); January-June (1 Position).  All positions are based in or near Wilmington, NC.

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 26, 2017.

The NC Coastal Plain Prescribed Fire Crew Technician participates in preserve operations, restoration, maintenance, and management. This may include the following functions:

• Participates in prescribed fire and wildfire activities, which may include: burn unit prep, fire operations, managing staff and volunteers, maintenance of equipment and supplies, mop up, and monitoring.
• Participates in restoration efforts with thinning, planting, and monitoring.
• Maintains preserves and buildings, which may include: maintaining tools and equipment, repairing fences and gates, posting boundaries, and maintaining grounds and structures at historical sites.

The Prescribed Fire Crew Technician may assist on wildland fire operations in other parts of the region with federal, state, or private partners, or travel to other areas of the state or out-of-state to assist other TNC programs or partners on prescribed or wildland fires.  Housing is provided to fire crew members.

There are 9 Rx Fire Crew Technician positions available at different hiring periods.  The positions are as follows: January-March 3 Positions); January-April (3 Positions); January-June (3 Positions).

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 26, 2017.

The Seasonal Preserve Management Assistant (PMA) will conduct various stewardship and ecological monitoring activities on the Brown Ranch and Pigeon Point Preserves in North Dakota.  They will live at the Brown Ranch but may travel to other North Dakota preserves. The Preserve Assistant’s primary responsibilities will include but may not be limited to: prescribed burning, fence construction, noxious weed control and monitoring control efforts, assisting with the collection of ecological monitoring data, assisting with firebreak preparation, and maintenance of preserve facilities and equipment.  The Seasonal Preserve Assistants supervise no staff and are supervised by the Sheyenne Delta Land Steward.  This is a seasonal position and the work dates are as soon as possible through the end of November for the candidate with the right skill set (GIS knowledge/experience).

HOW TO APPLY

For more information about and to apply to this position, click HERE. All applications must be submitted in the system prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 31, 2017. Applications will be reviewed and interviews may be conducted as they are received.

This position and its section have responsibility for implementing those portions of the Air Quality Program (AQP) that are decentralized to the regions, as well as participating in various multi-program and government-government initiatives related to the Eastern Regional geographic coverage area. The section provides environmental services to protect air quality. The primary functions of the position include:

• Controlling industrial and commercial facility air pollution by ensuring compliance with air quality regulations and issuing permits.
• Reducing public health threats from smoke, from home heating, and outdoor burning by ensuring compliance with air quality regulations and issuing permits.
• Managing daily direct service activities of the AQP in the eastern region.

For a full position description click here.

Interns will work in a crew of 3 people (one crew lead and two technicians) to monitor land health on National Monument lands, vegetation treatments, rangeland allotments, or reference areas. Participants will manage all aspects of vegetation monitoring using the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) methodology. More information on the BLM’s AIM strategy can be found here. Experience with identifying vegetation to species is essential for the position. Within all plots, vegetation will be identified to species; line-point intercept will be used to gather species cover and composition data; shrub density will be measured; and soil descriptions will be required. All point data will be gathered using a GPS unit and stored in an ArcGIS geodatabase. Data are entered into the Database for Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment (DIMA) on site with ruggedized tablets and are further analyzed and synthesized into various reports for future land management planning. DIMA requires a high level of Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC), therefore attention to detail is paramount for these positions. Subsequent, professional reports must be completed and will involve the presentation of scientific data and pre and post treatment analysis. Crew may be camping 1-6 nights/week, depending on location.

The Crew Leader will be required to report data on multiple levels (i.e. district/field office lead, the National Operations Center, Jornada Rangeland Research Programs, etc.). As such the ability to communicate effectively with agency staff and a diverse public is essential. Subsequent reports must be completed and will involve the presentation of scientific data and pre/post treatment analysis. The Crew Lead is also responsible for: supporting and managing the field crew, coordinating field logistics and scheduling, managing the crew’s budget, and completing administrative paperwork.

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The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) has openings for 5 Staff Scientists to pursue independent, internationally recognized research programs in the tropics. Previous tropical experience is not required. We are especially interested in hiring scientists in animal behavior, terrestrial microbial ecology, forest biology and marine science. We will consider exceptional candidates in any of our research areas. Positions are for full-time research and include internal research funds.

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Nominations are now open for new members of the International Association of Wildland Fires' (IAWF) Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted through September 30, 2017 and successful candidates will begin their 3-year term on January 1, 2018. Individuals meeting the requirements listed below may self-nominate.

REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

• Must be an "individual" member of the IAWF in good standing. Student, Corporate and Agency members are not eligible.
• The IAWF Board of Directors is a working Board. We expect that individuals serving the membership in these positions will contribute the time, energy and expertise to serve on committees, participate in eleven (11) conference calls per year and generally assist in furthering the mission of the Association. (Calls are scheduled the last Tuesday every month, except December and generally last about 60 minutes.)
• Applicants with skills/expertise in Financial Management, Board Governance, and Communication/Journalism/Media (Writing and Editing) are highly encouraged to apply.

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Fires are increasing in frequency, size and intensity partly due to climate change and land management practices, yet there is limited knowledge of the impacts of smoke emissions —both short term and long term. EPA is using its expertise in air quality research to fill the gaps in scientific information and to develop tools to prevent and reduce the impact of wildfires and controlled or prescribed burns. The wildland fire research has three main goals:

• Provide new science to understand the impacts of smoke on health, and how this knowledge can instruct smoke management practices and intervention strategies to reduce health impacts. 
• Provide essential novel data on smoke emissions to construct the national emission inventory used to understand air quality across the country.
• Improve understanding of how smoke from fires affects air quality and climate change.

To visit the web page, click HERE.

A postdoctoral scholar position is available in the Goldstein Research Group at UC Berkeley focused on development of the new Comprehensive Thermal Desorption Aerosol Gas Chromatograph (cTAG) instrument through a DOE SBIR Grant, and its application to measure emissions from biomass burning during the NOAA sponsored FIREX field campaigns. Responsibilities will include working as part of the development and application team for cTAG, development of data analysis tools for chromatographically separated high resolution time of flight mass spectrometer data, collection and analysis of field measurements, collaborating with the cTAG and FIREX science teams, preparation of reports to funding agencies and manuscripts for peer reviewed publication.

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RESPONSIBILITIES: This is a tenure-track, academic-year position. The successful candidate will be expected to: 1) teach two upper-division undergraduate courses (forest economics and forest resources management) and 2) develop a leading research and/or extension program in forest resource management and/or economics that addresses critical issues at the state, national, and/or international levels. The balance of research and/or extension will be negotiated depending on candidate’s interest and background. Interdisciplinary collaboration across the department’s diverse natural resources faculty will be essential. Depending on the candidate’s interest, a courtesy appointment in the Department of Agricultural Economics is possible.

QUALIFICATIONS: A Ph.D. in natural resource management or economics, with a focus on forest resource issues. Candidates should have 1) previous experience successfully teaching university courses; 2) demonstrated scholarship in research and/or extension through publication in refereed journals, 3) demonstrated success or the potential to develop a vigorous, extramurally funded research and/or extension program, and 4) demonstrated success working on research teams addressing multi-disciplinary problems. Undergraduate or graduate training and/or work experience in forestry is strongly preferred.

For more information click here.

You are invited to participate in the continuing evaluation of the Joint Fire Science Program’s Fire Science Exchange Network. This web-based survey focuses on the communication and application of fire science research results and resources. Sponsors are specifically interested in knowing about your opinions and experiences with the Fire Science Exchange in your region. This evaluation project is based at the University of Nevada, Reno and includes all of the Fire Science Exchanges across the United States. Your responses to the questions will be used to help the JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network address your fire science information needs and ultimately enhance fire science delivery.

The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. JFSP realizes that some of you may have completed a version of this survey in the past. Continued participation of prior respondents and participation from new respondents is essential in helping the JFSP Fire Science Exchanges progress toward their goals. Your participation in this study is voluntary, and all of your responses will remain completely confidential. Please click on the following link or copy and paste the link into your web browser:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JFSP2017Evaluation

If you have any questions or problems accessing the survey, please contact Evaluation Coordinator Bret Davis at bretd@unr.edu telephone (775) 784-6637. During the next four weeks, you will receive two follow-up emails regarding your invitation to participate in this survey.

Thank you for your time and involvement in helping the JFSP to learn more about how to improve fire science delivery and communication in your region.

Bill Evans, Ph.D., Professor of and Human Development and Education, University of Nevada, Reno (wevans@unr.edu)

Loretta Singletary, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Department of Economics; Interdisciplinary Outreach Liaison, Cooperative Extension, University of Nevada, Reno (singletaryl@unr.edu)

Bret Davis, Ph.D., Research and Evaluation Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies, University of Nevada, Reno (bretd@unr.edu)

Chris Copp, MA, Doctoral Student, Interdisciplinary Social Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno (christopherjcopp@gmail.com)

Challenge Summary:

Federal, state, local, and tribal agencies are interested in new ways to monitor air quality during fire events to better protect public health. Air quality managers and public health officials have limited access to accurate information on ground-level air pollution levels in the vicinity of wildland fires, making it difficult to provide appropriate strategies to minimize smoke exposure. Most air pollution monitoring equipment is large, not easily transportable, and complex to operate. Today, emerging technologies – including miniaturized direct-reading sensors, compact/powerful microprocessors, and wireless data communications – offer the opportunity to develop new systems to quickly gather and communicate air pollution data.

Wild fires are increasingly common events that produce significant air pollution, posing health risks to first responders, residents in nearby areas, and downwind communities. Also, wild fires are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the fire season is growing longer.  Prescribed fires, which are used to manage ecosystems or reduce risk of wild fires, are typically managed to minimize downwind impacts on populated areas; however, people in close proximity may still be exposed to smoke.  The description “wildland fires” refers to both wild and prescribed fires.

This challenge seeks a field-ready prototype system capable of measuring constituents of smoke, including particulates, carbon monoxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide, over the wide range of levels expected during wildland fires. The prototype system should be accurate, light-weight, easy to operate, and capable of wireless data transmission, so that first responders and nearby communities have access to timely information about local air quality conditions during wildland fire events.

For more information, click HERE.