Fire Effects Portal

With multiple agencies/entities, groups and task forces all working to find solutions for operational concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the need for a space to share information is apparent. This forum serves as a platform to ask questions, as well as to share ideas, information, and solutions.

Please refer to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's website regarding infectious disease guidance for wildland fire incidents, Emergency Medical Committee.

The University of Georgia (UGA) is seeking a dynamic and innovative postdoctoral research associate to work at the nexus of soil science and fire ecology. The project seeks to understand the relationship between soil moisture and fire prediction by integrating a suite of soil, fire, climate, and remote sensing datasets with robust modeling techniques. The project is a collaboration between the University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, the US Geological Survey, and two USDA regional climate hubs (Southwest and Southern Plains). The candidate will be based at UGA in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences in Athens, GA.

UGA is a Land/Sea Grant institution and is ranked 16th among public universities in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 edition of America’s Best Colleges. Athens is well known for its quality of life in regard to both outdoor and urban activities and is 90 miles northeast of Atlanta, the state capital. Ideal candidates would combine expertise in data analysis and modeling of large spatial datasets.

Position is available September 21, 2020 for one year (contingent upon funding). Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

Objective: Primary goals are (1) quantify the relationships between modeled soil moisture and wildfire probability for two large river basins in the southwestern and south central US using soil and biophysical data; and (2) distribute wildfire probability maps for both basins.

Summary of duties: Integrate existing soil, climate, and other remotely-sensed biophysical variables to develop dynamic fire probability maps for two large watersheds in the southwestern and south central US at daily to weekly time steps and moderate spatial resolution. Produce wildfire data sets for the 2000– 2016 period, and selected maps of dynamic wildfire probability. Work with collaborators and stakeholders to facilitate stakeholder meetings and produce peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations and website content. Travel to some stakeholder and professional meetings is expected.

Required qualifications: Completed Ph.D. in soil science, fire ecology, landscape ecology, or similar field by start date. Experience with spatial modeling and proficiency with computer software including R, Python, ArcGIS, etc. is required. A positive attitude and willingness to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of researchers is required. Desired qualifications: Familiarity with soil geographic databases (e.g., SSURGO), climate data (e.g., PRISM), remote sensing, and wildfire modeling is desired.

To apply: Please send an email to Dr. Matt Levi at matthew.levi@uga.edu with subject line: “Application for soil-fire postdoc” that includes your CV and a short cover letter (1 page) detailing your qualifications and interest for the position. Review of applications will begin August 21, 2020. The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.

The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are open through 5 pm MST, September 30, 2020.

The Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) announcement FA-FOA0021-001 has one task statement. Proposals must address one or more of the following topic areas:

• Fuels management and fire behavior
• Changing fire environment
• Emissions and air quality
• Fire effects and post-fire recovery
• Relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire
• Human dimensions of fire

The primary announcement FA-FOA0021-002 has two task statements:  

1. Sources and distribution of human-caused ignitions and their relation to wildfire impacts
2. Reducing damages and losses to valued resources from wildfire

The Regional Fire Science Exchange announcement FA-FOA0021-003 has one task statement focused on leading and executing a regional fire science exchange in the following two regions (see map and supporting information in the FOA):  

1. Lake States
2. Tallgrass Prairie

Assistant/ Associate/ Full Professor of Soil Science and Restoration Ecology – Tenure-track, academic year (9 month) position within the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo. Beginning date is September 10, 2020. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate will teach courses that prepare students for a broad range of careers in environmental science and natural resource management. Scholarship should include the field of soil science, restoration ecology, and the interaction between social and biophysical systems at the landscape scale. Some potential areas of specialization may include restoration/conservation/landscape ecology, soil remediation, and land management that connect terrestrial and hydrological systems with social systems. Research experience related to conservation and planning of natural areas, managed landscapes, and protected areas at landscape scales and geospatial analysis skills that connects biophysical and social datasets are preferred. Given the interdisciplinary nature of this position, the successful candidate will collaborate with other Colleges/Departments at the university.

Cal Poly has a tradition of excellence in teaching and our motto is “Learn by Doing.” Strong interests in laboratory/field-based undergraduate teaching along with excellent written and oral communication skills as reflected by a peer-reviewed publication record that is commensurate with time/experience in career are required. The successful candidate will teach environmental management, soil science, and ecology courses in the NRES Department. Demonstrated experience collaborating with natural resource agencies and the ability to connect students with applied restoration efforts is highly desired. The successful candidate will also mentor undergraduate and graduate research projects, provide general academic and student club advising, participate in Future Farmers of America (FFA) land judging state finals held on campus annually, teach graduate level courses and nurture overall student development with a focus in restoration ecology.

Courses taught will depend on student demand. The successful candidate will have expertise to teach the following courses: Introductory Soil Science (SS 120), Introduction to Environmental Management (NR142), Introduction to Earth Systems (ERSC 144), and Natural Resource Ecology and Habitat Management (NR 306), in addition to developing new course(s) in restoration ecology, as well as landscape and/or conservation ecology. Additional expertise to teach the following courses is desirable: Fire Ecology (NR307), Wetlands (NR/SS 421), Soil Ecology (SS 422), Soil Morphology (SS 321), and Ecosystem Management (NR465). These courses are taken by NRES majors as well as by students from many of the departments within the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences.

Advertised: December 16, 2019 (9:00 AM) Pacific Standard Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled

The Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia (UBC), invites applications for a tenure-track academic position in Indigenous Natural Sciences at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, to commence on July 1, 2021 or when a suitable candidate is found. The UBC Vancouver campus is located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xwmǝθkwǝýǝm (Musqueam).

Depending on the background of the successful candidate, this position will be housed in either the Department of Forest Resources Management, the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, the Department of Wood Science, or jointly between two of these.

Questions should be directed to Professor John Innes, Dean of Forestry at john.innes@ubc.ca or Professor Chris Gaston, Chair of Search Committee at chris.gaston@ubc.ca.