ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The SBR Conservation Coordinator will report to the Land Steward/Burn Crew Manager. They will be responsible for the continued collaboration between TNC and the USFS to complete project obligations of supporting prescribed fire operations for the Joint Chiefs Cherokee Foothills collaborative by direct support and/or working with seasonal fire teams to provide that assistance. This individual will also be expected to be the primary TNC field representative for the Sumac Creek Stewardship Agreement.  They will provide input and oversight into ongoing and future timber harvests, as well as management projects proposed for forest health and restoration.  They will serve as a primary TNC representative for the SBR Fire Learning Network and participate with the internal TNC multi-state collaborative focused on the SBR. They will represent TNC in the current Foothills Landscape Collaborative planning process initiated by the USFS.

Land stewardship of the relatively small TNC-owned preserves in the SBR landscape will become the primary responsibility of the SBR Conservation Coordinator, including annual monitoring and reporting. They will be responsible for outreach and volunteer engagement with other conservation organizations and efforts such as Georgia State Parks, Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and the Bog Learning Network to assist with other on-going rare species conservation efforts.

The SBR Conservation Coordinator will be responsible for managing a short-term seasonal fire team(s) during the prescribed fire season.  This may include direct supervision on some days and/or arranging for work to assist partners on other days.  This position will assist with the training of new firefighters.  As part of the Coordinator’s ongoing professional development, they will be responsible for keeping abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow professional fire certification credentials.  In addition, they will work to build and maintain relationships in the professional fire community and in the local community where the Conservancy works. This may include participation in wild-land fire suppression activities in partnership with other non-profits, local fire departments, and local, state and federal agencies, either as a TNC employee, or as a volunteer or short-term employee of the partner entity (such as an “Administratively Determined,” short-term federal employee).

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 4, 2017.

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.

Click here for more information.

The Director of the Allegheny Highlands Program establishes the Conservancy as a major conservation partner within western Virginia and the Central Appalachians, defines conservation priorities in the region, manages a team that implements conservation strategies, and builds strategic, scientific, and technical capacity in the field. S/he collaborates with other TNC staff in the fields of conservation, government relations, marketing, philanthropy, and operations, along with chapter leadership, and is the principle contact with the local community, landowners, corporations, donors, government agencies, the academic community and local elected officials. The Director develops key partnerships with public and private organizations to identify and resolve complex technical issues and to widely communicate lessons learned and best practices, develops innovative scientific methods, analyses, tools, and frameworks to address system-scale needs, implements high-impact strategies, and engages community support for local and regional conservation efforts. S/he negotiates complex and innovative solutions with government agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities and develops and implements conservation strategies that are good for people and nature. Current priority strategies that the Director will lead include: 1) working with the U.S. Forest Service and partners through the Central Appalachians Fire Learning Network to advance the restoration of fire-adapted forests, 2) positioning Warm Springs Mountain Preserve as a flagship preserve for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, donors and researchers while modeling responsible stewardship and demonstrating sound ecological management, 3) advancing the science and management of private working lands to improve habitat for golden-winged warblers and other species of greatest conservation need, and 4) ensuring application of the mitigation hierarchy to natural gas pipeline and future energy infrastructure projects facing the region.

For more information or to apply click here.

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment is looking for a motivated individual to fill the position of a Natural Resources Social Science Intern. This person will work at the intersection of community and natural resources on collaborative forest and watershed restoration and rural community development through small-diameter wood utilization. Work will include both applied research and capacity-building work to promote resilient forest ecosystems and rural communities. Travel to rural communities throughout the state to conduct related work and research may be required. The duration of the position is six months, with the possibility of extension. Position is open until filled, though review of applications will begin on July 24, 2017.

For more information click here.

The Cooperative Extension (CE) advisor for forestry will conduct a locally based extension, education and applied research program to address high priority issues in both coniferous and hardwood forests with a focus on sustainability by promoting the fundamental criteria of economic stability, environmental stewardship and social equity. Important issues to be addressed include forest management, economics, restoration, watershed and landscape sciences, and fire and fuels management. Key clientele include Registered Professional Foresters, Industrial and Non-industrial timberland owners, NGOs, oak woodland landowners, policy and decision-makers, and other forest-related stakeholders.

Click here for more information or to apply.

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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Central Appalachians Project Director serves as the regional lead for conservation programs and projects and fulfills the following essential functions:

Conservation Vision and Leadership

• Serves as chief partner to the Director of Conservation in developing compelling conservation vision and agenda, shaping strategies and priorities, and achieving meaningful deliverables for conservation in the Central Appalachians, with specific emphasis on Working Woodlands Program.
• Works with The Nature Conservancy’s Central Appalachian Whole System project team to contribute to ecosystem-scale conservation strategies benefiting both people and nature and to translate Whole System vision into tangible actions. This includes serving as primary liaison to TNC’s Central Appalachians Whole System, a priority TNC program aimed at conserving the globally significant connected, climate resilient landscape stretching from Tennessee to Pennsylvania.

Conservation Program Management

• Oversees the development and implementation of all aspects of Kentucky’s voluntary forest carbon program.
• Collaborates with Kentucky’s Director of Protection, Director of Conservation, and Central Appalachians Whole System staff to implement science-based objectives, metrics for monitoring, and adaptive management frameworks for implementation of the Working Woodlands Program in Kentucky as part of the chapter’s first Forest Conservation Business Plan.
• Serves as key working group member, and lead for Kentucky, within the Central Appalachians Whole System project.

External Leverage and Influence

• Maintains and enhances the Conservancy’s role as a leading conservation organization, an innovator, a reliable and trustworthy partner, and a source of credible information.
• Build, cultivate, and maintain key partnerships and relationships with public agencies, private organizations and key stakeholders in Eastern Kentucky.
• Seek out and pursue significant public and private funding opportunities that will deliver resources needed to advance the Central Appalachians Whole System vision.
• Collaborate with philanthropy staff to support effective fundraising for the Central Appalachian Project Area, including participation in donor events, communications and marketing efforts, and gift solicitations.

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 11, 2017.

Looking for a unique experience exploring Death Valley National Park? This position offers the rare opportunity to venture off the beaten path and see areas of the park that remain largely unvisited by the public. Boasting the lowest elevation in the U.S. (282 ft. below sea level) and holding the record for the hottest recorded temperature on Earth, Death Valley covers a vast and varied expanse from salt-flat basins with sweeping sand dunes to snow-capped mountains extending more than 11,000 ft. into the sky. Opportunities for exploration and recreation are as diverse as the landscapes themselves. In cooperation with Death Valley National Park, the Great Basin Institute is recruiting two (2) AmeriCorps Interns to assist with cyclic maintenance of exotic vegetation at Scotty's Castle burned area. These members will survey, monitor, remove, and control exotics on a consistent basis within the burned area in order to help promote the reestablishment and growth of native vegetation, restore wildlife habitat(s), and restore the natural ecosystem of the burned area. Control of exotics and the restoration of the burned area will provide a revitalized wildlife habitat and enhance public enjoyment of the area. There will be additional opportunities to survey, monitor, remove, and control exotic vegetation at other riparian areas in the park. These areas include developed areas, roadsides, and/or remote backcountry and wilderness sites. Critical weeds to be controlled are salt cedar, non-native palms, annual mustards, Russian thistle, and a variety of other exotics and non-native plants.

The primary goals of this project are (1) To improve the condition of highly visible and ecologically important park resources by controlling exotic plants and restoring wetland hydrologic functions, and (2) Expose youth volunteers to multiple aspects of resource management in a national park setting.

For more information click here.

Congratulations to the 2017 IAWF Award Recipients. The Wildland Fire Safety Award was presented at the Safety Summit in Barcelona, Spain earlier this year. The remaining awards will be presented at a special event in Boise, ID later this year.

Wildland Fire Safety Award - Professor Domingos Viegas of the University of Coimbra Portugal

Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science - Brian Stocks, B.J. Stocks Wildfire Investigations Ltd.

Excellence in Wildland Fire Management Award - Steven Miller, Chief, Bureau of Land Resources, St Johns River Water Management District

Early Career in Fire Operations Award - Dr. Sara Brown, US Forest Service

Early Career in Fire Science Award - Dr. Travis Paveglio, University of Idaho

POSITION SUMMARY

The Field Steward assists with the implementation of a comprehensive program to protect natural communities and species, and to complete land management activities on conservation lands in central and southeastern Minnesota.  The Field Steward works with and directs a land management crew daily, working on Conservancy and partner agency lands.  This position is based out of the Lake Alexander Preserve office, located near Cushing, MN. The Field Steward will work across central and southeastern MN, with frequent travel and regular overnight stays.  This position is a full-time position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Field Steward’s primary function is to organize daily logistics, promote crew cohesion, and to ensure a safe and productive work environment. Daily duties focus on prescribed fire and controlling invasive species and woody vegetation in prairie and oak savanna ecosystems.  Other ecosystems include mixed pine/oak forests and Jack pine savanna.  The Field Steward coordinates the work of a 2-4 person stewardship crew during the field season. Other duties include maintaining preserve areas frequented by the visiting public, vegetation monitoring, seed collection and processing, assisting with contract development and/or inspections, assisting with grazing leases and fence maintenance, maintaining tools and equipment, and operating heavy machinery.  This position may spend up to 50% of the time away from their home base.

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 July 23, 2017.

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), in partnership with the Association for Fire Ecology, offers Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) awards yearly to a handful of top-quality graduate students conducting research in fire science. GRIN awards are intended to nurture the next generation of fire and fuels scientists and managers, enhance their professional development, help them become engaged with their community of peers, and equip them to tackle the fire and fuels management challenges of today and tomorrow. To earn a GRIN award, master’s and doctoral students are invited to submit succinct four-page proposals for original research in fire ecology, management, science, or human dimensions of wildfire, including climate. The award is intended to augment already-funded thesis or dissertation research.

Click here to see the 2017 recipients.

Under the direct supervision of the Forest Management Division Supervisor, this position is responsible for the oversight and administration of programs supporting forest stewardship activities on private lands in Colorado. Specifically, this position will be responsible for program administration, professional forestry functions, and science-based forest management expertise supporting the field units (districts) in providing programs to the citizens of Colorado. Specific programs under the direction of this position include Forest Stewardship and Forest Agricultural Tax Classification. The position maintains key working relationships with partners, particularly with the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The incumbent represents Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) on the NRCS State Technical Committee and related Forestry Advisory Subcommittee and serves as the CSFS liaison with the Colorado Association of Conservation Districts.

This position requires proficiency in general program management skills including but not limited to: recording accomplishments, meeting deadlines, handling budgets, and supporting field operations. The Program Manager needs to be proactive in his/her program development, assist other Program Managers in program accomplishments, forecast program needs, be aware of significant changes, practices, science, etc. in related areas, and effectively share new knowledge and information with internal staff and external partners and cooperators. The Program Manager will serve as a CSFS representative and advocate for forest management and change consistent with our mission and strategic priorities.

Daily activities include: grant and contract writing and administration, budget administration of a budget of $1 to $2 million (spanning multiple years of funding), assisting districts with program implementation and coordination, maintaining relationships with key partners, conducting training workshops, administering landowner assistance programs, and assisting the Forest Management Division Supervisor with other special projects as they arise.

For more information click here.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to teach, conduct research, and assist in the School’s overall mission. Duties will include (1) a major commitment to undergraduate instruction in courses in forest health, ecology , and/or other areas of expertise as needed; (2) developing a focused research program; (3) seeking and securing external funding; and (4) participation in outreach activities. The successful applicant will be expected to build an externally funded research program and work with clients in the region as well as in cooperation with Unit and College faculty. The successful candidate will help recruit and advise undergraduate students, direct graduate students, serve on School, College, and University committees, and participate in professional and/or scientific societies.

For more information and to apply click here.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of the NC Longleaf Pine Program serves as The Nature Conservancy’s conservation leader and manager for all aspects of our work within the southern Coastal Plain and Sandhills region of North Carolina. The Longleaf Pine Program Director oversees all aspects of protection, science, stewardship, policy and community/agency relations and is responsible for defining strategies, building effective partnerships and developing program capacity. S/he serves as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, foundations and the Longleaf Pine Whole System leadership across the Southeastern U.S. The Director oversees staffed programs in the SE Coastal Plain, Sandhills and Onslow Bight landscapes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Longleaf Pine Program Director oversees all aspects of protection, restoration, land management, science and planning, program administration, policy and partner and community relations. S/he provides leadership and support for TNC’s conservation actions by utilizing best available science and conservation planning to establish overall program priorities. S/he supplies management, oversight and program support to Conservancy field operations. The Director serves as the principle contact with government agencies, other conservation organizations, private landowners, foundations and consultants, and the academic community. S/he negotiates complex and innovative solutions with agencies and landowners to conserve and protect natural communities and implement conservation strategies.

The Longleaf Pine Program Director leads and manages a team of nine professionals working on longleaf pine conservation across the southern Coastal Plain and Sandhills regions of North Carolina. The Director is responsible for developing and overseeing budgets and work plans, soliciting and utilizing technical and scientific expertise, conducting strategic planning and ensuring tangible conservation results. S/he manages land protection, stewardship and restoration staff including seasonal controlled burning crews and may participate in controlled burning and other fire program related activities. S/he partners to expand the reach of TNC resources, builds public support for conservation efforts and represents TNC’s interests on high-leverage partnerships. S/he works closely with Philanthropy and other staff to raise program funding by identifying opportunities and developing proposals and grant applications. The Director develops policy priorities for the Conservancy related to longleaf conservation in NC and works with Chapter and Government Relations leadership to implement these efforts. S/he serves on the NC Chapter Conservation Steering Committee and advises the Director of Conservation Programs on strategic priorities for the region.

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 July 30, 2017.

POSITION SUMMARY

The State Land Steward develops, coordinates and manages conservation plans and actions for TNC and partner projects across South Carolina.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The State Land Steward will assume responsibility for the stewardship of TNC land interests across the state of South Carolina, including fee and easement lands. The State Land Steward will also assume roles in land management and restoration projects conducted with partner organizations, and through technical assistance and outreach to landowners. Specific duties will include but are not limited to wildland fire management planning and implementation, management plan implementation, conservation easement monitoring, invasive species control, monitoring of rare species and communities, hydrologic monitoring, recreation management, and all applicable leases. The State Land Steward will coordinate prescribed fires on TNC preserves in addition to assisting partners on prescribed burns.

The State Land Steward will assist senior conservation staff in the delivery of technical support and outreach to landowners interested or engaged in habitat restoration efforts. S/he may develop or assist the development of funding applications to support these efforts. The person in this position will be asked to work with donors as appropriate, which may include occasional evening or weekend hours.

The State Land Steward may participate in hiring and oversee short-term employees, interns, and/or volunteers.

As part of the incumbent’s ongoing professional development, s/he will be responsible for keeping abreast of new techniques for prescribed burning and invasive and exotic species control. S/he will maintain chainsaw certification, applicable pesticide licensing, ATV safety certification, and fire line certification (“Red Card”).

The State Land Steward works out of the Mount Pleasant, SC satellite office and is supervised by the Forest Program Manager.

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 July 28, 2017.

The Department of Natural Resources for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) is seeking qualified applicants for a professional forester position. This is a full-time permanent position located in Pendleton, OR. The incumbent would be responsible for enhancing and sustaining Tribally significant First Food sources through various forest management activities including: assisting in timber sale preparation and administration, non-commercial thinning contract development and administration, timber stand improvement, reforestation, and the planning and implementation of prescribed fire.

The forester reports to the supervisory forester and is part of a team of 4 foresters and several seasonal technicians with the goal of ecologic and economic management of forest resources for the beneficial owners. Some common tasks assigned to the forester are:

• preparing plans associated with timber sale layout and design.
• working alone and as part of a team as timber sale officer.
• preparing plans and contracts for non-commercial forest thinning.
• collecting field data related to stand conditions and assist inventory forester with contract inspections.
• provide feedback and assists with the development of silvicultural treatments.
• frequent use of ArcGIS software for planning, spatial analysis, creating and editing and attribute data.

For more information about this position click here.

Overview: This position is a part of a partnership between Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) and Habitat Forever, LLC (HF). The incumbent will conduct habitat management work on public wildlife management areas. This person will be a full-time, permanent employee of Habitat Forever and will receive daily leadership from KDWP Field Managers.

Duties: The incumbent will assist with all aspects of managing the assigned wildlife management area. Major responsibilities include:

• Participate in all aspects of wildlife and habitat management of 7,600-acre Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area and 4,600-acre La Cygne Lake and Wildlife Area. Employee will gain experience in upland management, intensively managed wetlands, and bottomland hardwood forests. Employee hired for this position will likely be involved in upland and wetland habitat management, prescribed burning, and woodland management.
• Procuring supplies and equipment;
• Supervising and participating in the construction, maintenance and repair of area buildings, equipment, and roads;
• Coordinating agricultural permits to insure positive benefits for wildlife;
• Providing public information;
• Participating in scientific field studies and surveys;
• Participating in training and evaluation of seasonal employees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Member Duties: The Prairie Science Technician will support many ongoing experiments, which explore effective restoration techniques for western Washington prairies. In order to develop and maintain high quality prairies, more information on how this ecosystem functions is needed. CNLM collaborates with partners to conduct regional, multi site experiments that determine current ecological conditions and test the efficiency of restoration practices. The member will spend 60 percent of their time assisting staff with experimental research, project and species monitoring, and data management; the remaining 40 percent will be spent on restoration practices, native plant propagation, invasive species control and native planting. This member will assist with scientific studies evaluating effects of prescribed fire, herbicide, grazing, seeding, and mycorrhizal fungi inoculation of native plants. Tasks include reviewing literature, setting up experiments, collecting field data and managing the data.

Program Benefits: Education award upon successful completion of service, Stipend, Health Coverage, Training, Childcare assistance if eligible.

Member Duties: The Prairie Restoration Technician will assist with seasonal on the ground restoration actions across hundreds of acres at several public and private South Sound prairie sites and with plant propagation at the native plant nurseries. Restoration tasks will include control of invasive species, prescribed fire application, native planting and seeding, and monitoring of key animal and plant species. The nursery activities will include native seed processing, seed bed maintenance, and plug sowing. The Restoration Technician will serve independently, or as part of a team with other CNLM staff, dedicated long and short-term volunteers, and other AmeriCorps members. Depending on the time of year, 4 to 5 days per week will be spent in the field or nursery environment completing land stewardship tasks across the South Sound prairies with preparation and follow up reports completed at the Olympia office. During these times, some long field days can be expected.

Program Benefits: Education award upon successful completion of service, Stipend, Health Coverage, Training, Childcare assistance if eligible.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) are seeking input and opinions regarding the development of and use of drones for prescribed burns. Please consider giving your input by completing the following survey:

Survey

Note that you must be of age of majority in your state to participate, the survey takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, and all opinions reported on the survey will be reported in aggregate form or quoted in such a way as to preserve the anonymity of respondents. The survey has been approved by the UNL institutional review board for the ethical treatment of human subjects and results will be use to inform the development of drones for supporting prescribed burns.

At the end of the survey, you can also enter your email if you are willing to participate in later focus groups and would like to be kept up-to-date regarding the researchers drone development activities.

Alternatively, you can email bduncan@unl.edu and ask to be added to the email list. You do not need to participate in the research to be added to the email list.

For questions about this research, please contact Lisa PytlikZillig at lpytlikz@nebraska.edu or Sebastian Elbaum at elbaum@cse.unl.edu or Dirac Twidwell at dirac.twidwell@unl.edu.

We are seeking a postdoctoral research scientist with expertise in air quality models and satellite data to support innovative research improving smoke forecasting tools that support wildfire incidents throughout the United States. The successful applicant will be expected to do atmospheric and air quality modeling and to develop systems and analyses using satellite data to improve model performance in modeling smoke from wildland fires. The position is with the University of Washington (UW) School of Environmental and Forest Sciences and supports research done collaboratively with the US Forest Service (USFS).

Wildland fires emit a wide variety of trace gases and aerosol into the atmosphere which continue to undergo many chemical and physical transformations as well as interacting with atmospheric processes. The Postdoc will lead an effort applying satellite information to improve the simulation of wildland fire smoke in atmospheric and air quality (AQ) models such as the Community multi-scale air quality (CMAQ) modeling system, or Weather Research Forecasting (WRF)-Chem model, or WRF-SFire model on scales ranging from sub-kilometer to 12-km (regional to continental) scales. These models are being developed for use in a suite of air quality tools being used by fire incident command to support decisions on the fire as well as discussions with air regulatory and public health officials in the areas affected by smoke including influencing public health notifications. The postdoc will work on improving these air quality modeling systems and use satellite information (e.g. AOD, FRP, etc., from platforms such as GOES, VIIRS, and MODIS) to improve model initialization and model evaluation, as well as to develop fundamental scientific improvements to various model components.

The work will be conducted as part of multidisciplinary team, integrating data from many sources and disciplines such as fire ecology, atmospheric chemistry, fire weather, fire behavior and combustion, and field campaigns of land and airborne measurements. The basic existing modeling system is the BlueSky smoke modeling framework, which links together fire activity, mapped fuel loadings, fuel consumption and emission models, and algorithms for fire spread and vertical allocation emissions into dispersion and atmospheric chemistry models to produce smoke forecasts. BlueSky is applied to a variety of scales and regions to support wildfire incident command teams. The goal with this position is to use satellite information to improve the fundamental science and delivery of these forecast products – implementing them operationally, evaluating the system, doing case study analysis and improving individual components of the system such as plume rise, time allocation of emissions, or model initialization or nudging. The successful candidate will be adept at installing and setting up air quality modeling systems such as WRF-CHEM and CMAQ in a LINUX environment, processing emission inventory data, and analyzing large atmospheric and air quality datasets. This position also provides the opportunity to work with a wide user community involved in smoke and fire, nationally and internationally.

The position will provide an outstanding opportunity to apply a variety of field and analytical skills to perform original and applied research, present the results at scientific meetings and trainings, and publish first-author papers in peer-reviewed journals. The appointment is for one year renewable up to three years conditional upon performance. The stipend is negotiable depending upon experience and includes benefits. The position is located at the Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Click here for more information.

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.

Job Description:

Summary:

This is a nine-month, tenure-track, academic appointment with additional three-month summer employment available and expected, the latter supported primarily from research grant funding. Initial summer support will be available.          

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Teach (50%) undergraduate courses such as Forest Fire Ecology, Forest Pests and Protection, Dendrology, and Natural Resources Management, as well as graduate courses in the area of expertise.
• Conduct scholarly research (40%) in forest fire ecology, management, and health.
• Service (10%) to the department, university, and community by serving on committees, advising students, participating in recruitment activities and in stakeholder outreach.
• Supervise master and doctoral level graduate students and serve on graduate student committees.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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