Sheldon Tieszen Student Award Recipients Announced

The Sheldon Tieszen Student Awards are sponsored by the International FORUM of Fire Research Directors (http://fireforum.org/), a group composed of the Directors of fire research organizations throughout the world, which aims to reduce the burden of fire (including the loss of life and property, and effects of fire on the environment and heritage) through international cooperation on fire research. The award recognizes excellence in an IAFSS symposium paper in fire safety science by a student making a significant contribution to that paper.

Recipients:

Elias Bearinger, M.S., Awarded for the paper “Localized Heat Transfer from Firebrands to Surfaces” by Elias D. Bearinger, Jonathan L. Hodges, Fengchang Yang, Christian M. Rippe, and Brian Y. Lattimer, Advised by Brian Y. Lattimer at Virginia Tech, USA. 

Mohamed Beshir, Ph.D. Awarded for the paper “Semi-empirical model for estimating the Heat Release Rate required for flashover in compartments with thermally-thin boundaries and ultra-fast fires” by M. Beshir, Y. Wang, F. Centeno, R. Hadden, S. Welch, and D. Rush. Advised by David Rush, University of Edinburgh, UK.

Jian Chen, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Why are Cooktop Fires so Hazardous?” by Jian Chen, Yue Hu, Zhigang Wang, Ki Yong Lee, Sung Chan Kim, Matthew Bundy, Marco Fernandez and Anthony Hamins, Advised by Anthony Hamins at National Institute of Standards and Technology. 

Carmen Gorska, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Fire Dynamics in Mass Timber Compartments” by authors Carmen Gorska, Juan P. Hidalgo and Jose L. Torero., Advised by Juan P. Hidalgo, at the University of Queensland, Australia. 

Juan Cuevas, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Flame extinction and burning behaviour of timber under varied oxygen concentrations” by Juan Cuevas, José Torero, and Cristian Maluk, Advised by Cristian Maluk, Juan Hidalgo and José Torero at The University of Queensland, Australia.. 

Lauren B. Gagnon, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Effect of Reduced Ambient Pressures and Opposed Airflows on the Flame Spread and Dripping of LDPE Insulated Copper Wires” by Lauren Gagnon, Carlos Fernandez-Pello, James L. Urban, Van P. Carey, Yusuke Konno, and Osamu Fujita, Advised by Carlos Fernandez-Pello and Van P. Carey at the University of California, Berkeley, US.

Vinny Gupta, Ph.D. Awarded for the paper “Ventilation effects on the thermal characteristics of fire spread modes in open-plan compartment fires” by Vinny Gupta, Juan P. Hidalgo, Adam Cowlard, Cecilia Abecassis-Empis, Agustin Majdalani, Cristian Maluk, and Jose L. Torero. Advised by Dr Juan P. Hidalgo at The University of Queensland, Australia. 

Qi Li, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Symmetric modeling of the thermal actions in a structural fire experiment on a long-span composite floor beam in a compartment,” by Qi Li, Chao Zhang, and Guo-Qiang Li. Advised by Chao Zhang, Wuhan University (China) and conducted in cooperation with NIST (USA). 

Andrea Lucherini, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Influence of heating conditions and initial thickness on the effectiveness of thin intumescent coatings” by Andrea Lucherini, Juan P. Hidalgo, Jose L. Torero, and Cristian Maluk, Advised by Cristian Maluk, Jose L. Torero and Juan P. Hidalgo at The University of Queensland, Australia. 

Martina Manes, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Assessing fire frequency and structural fire behaviour of England statistics according to BS PD 7974-7” by Martina Manes and David Rush, Advised by David Rush at the University of Edinburgh, UK

Karina Meerpoel Pietri, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Determination of the critical conditions leading to the ignition of decking slabs by firebrands” by authors Karina Meerpoel Pietri, Virginie Tihay-Felicelli, and Paul-Antoine Santoni., Advised by Virginie Tihay-Felicelli, and Paul-Antoine Santoni at the University of Corsica, France. 

Natalia Flores Quiroz, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Developing a Framework for Fire Investigations in Informal Settlements” by Natalia Flores, Richard Walls and Antonio Cicione, Advised by Richard Walls at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. 

Xingyu Ren, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Temperature measurement of a turbulent buoyant ethylene diffusion flame using a dual-thermocouple technique” by Xingyu Ren, Dong Zeng, Yi Wang, Gang Xiong, Gaurav Agarwal, and Michael Gollner, Advised by Michael Gollner at the University of California, Berkeley and Dong Zeng at FM Global

Felix Wiesner, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Influence of ply configuration and adhesive type on cross-laminated timber in flexure at elevated temperature” by Felix Wiesner, Susan Deeny, and Luke Bisby, Advised by Luke Bisby and Rory Hadden. Work completed at The University of Edinburgh, Felix Wiesner now at The University of Queensland 

Nan Zhu, Ph.D., Awarded for the paper “Transitional flame-spread and fuel-regression behaviors under the change of concurrent wind ” by Nan Zhu, Xinyan Huang, Jun Fang, Lizhong Yang and Longhua Hu., Advised by Longhua Hu at the University of Science and Technology of China, China. 

PhD Scholarship on Mass Timber Fire at the University of Queensland, Australia

PhD scholarship: Scientific basis for the use of fire-safe intumescent coatings used in mass timber structures

Description

Supervisor – Dr Cristian Maluk Zedan

Engineering advances in the space of timber being used for construction of load-bearing assemblies has stimulated the design of timber structures where fire could be a problem. However, demonstrating and ensuring that the timber structure will perform appropriately during (and even after) a fire is a challenge. In the event of a fire, timber ignites and chars, resulting in an exothermic reaction that (1) may provide additional fuel to the fire and (2) result in a reduction of the load-bearing cross-section for structural timber elements. Consequently, timber structures must fulfil fire safety functional requirements to ensure structural integrity and stability during and after a fire.

Thin intumescent flame retardant (nano) coating, typically used in the steel industry, are thermally reactive materials that when exposed to heat swell to form a thick porous carbonaceous layer characterized by low density and low thermal conductivity. Usually, thin intumescent are applied to a few millimetres; swelling up to 100 times its original thickness.

This project will investigate and set the scientify/engineering grounds for understanding the fire performance and overall effectiveness for thin intumescent coatings and flame retardants that could be used in mass timber structures.

A working knowledge of fire engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, material science, or structural engineering would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

School of Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering at UQ was ranked 29th in the World and 2nd in Australia (NTU, 2019) and has consistently ranked in the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings. As a major part of the new Advanced Engineering Building, is the new and fully equipped structures and fire laboratory testing facility, which was supported through 2013 LIEF grant (LE130100089). The Fire Safety Engineering Research Group at UQ is at the forefront of fire engineering research and education in Australia. The team of four academics, including CI-Maluk who works in the areas of structural fire science and engineering research, and also in many other material science and generic fire safety research. Comprising 20+ PhD fire students, dedicated research and laboratory staff, the Fire Research Group actively engages with researchers in Australia and worldwide, as well as with industry, government, and other institutions for research and consultancy projects.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ), partner in this research project, delivers well recognised research and innovation in advanced materials with its Centre for Future Materials (formerly Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites) funded by the Queensland State Government with over $7 million infrastructure investment. Dr Pingan Song (co-supervisor based at USQ) has had 15+ years of research experience in materials science, especially polymer science (polymer blends and modification), and engineering (flame retardancy, mechanical reinforcement and toughening).

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must meet the entry requirements for a higher degree by research.

This scholarship is open to Australian citizens, permanent residents and International students who are currently in Australia.

Summary

Enrolment statusNew students
Student typeDomestic students
Level of studyHigher Degree by Research
Study areaEngineering and Computing, Science and Mathematics
HDR funding typeLiving stipend scholarship
Scholarship valuePhD scholarship: Scientific basis for the use of fire-safe intumescent coatings used in mass timber structures
Scholarship durationThree years with the possibility of two 6-month extensions in approved circumstances
Opening date22 January 2021
Closing date8 February 2021

Read more here:

https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/phd-scholarship-scientific-basis-use-fire-safe-intumescent-coatings-used-mass-timber-structures#qt-scholarship_tabs-foundation-tabs-1

2 PhD Opportunities on Wildland Fire Behavior at WPI, MA, USA

Applications are being sought for two Research Associates (PhD students) to conduct research in the area of wildland fire behavior and particularly on the multi-scale physics of the interactions between fire, wind and vegetation. The PhD students will work on the development of sub-models for CFD simulations of wildland fire spread through the development of a combined experimental and numerical approach.

The applicants are expected to possess a Master in Fire Protection, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering with research or educational background in fire, combustion and/or thermal science. The successful candidates should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication skills. Background in CFD modeling and fire experiments is a plus. Funding from a federal grant for these two positions is expected to last for three years.

Applications and associated information are requested to be submitted to the attention of Prof. Albert Simeoni, at aosaid@wpi.edu by February 12th, 2021 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The earliest start date for these positions is March 1st, 2021.

Post-Doctoral Fellow on wildland fire science at WPI, MA, USA

JOB TITLEFPE Post-Doctoral Fellow

LOCATIONWorcester

DEPARTMENT NAMEFire Protection Engineering – NFR JM

DIVISION NAMEWorcester Polytechnic Institute – WPI

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARYApplications are being sought for a qualified and motivated postdoctoral fellow to conduct research in the area of wildland fire science. The primary responsibility will be to support a new research project by the Department of Justice to provide experimental data and methodologies to assess the reliability of fire pattern indicators used in wildland fire investigation. Knowledge and experience in fire or wind-tunnel testing will be a plus.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Additional responsibilities will include research support on other projects and proposals, including writing grant applications.

The postdoctoral fellow will be required to publish scholarly papers and to take on a mentorship role for undergraduate and graduate students.

The successful candidate should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.

A one-year appointment is anticipated with a possible extension to two additional years.

Applicants will need to provide a letter of interest, a complete CV, at least two exemplar publications, and at least three academic / research references.

Applications and associated information are requested to be submitted by January 31st, 2021 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The target start date of this position is March 1st, 2021.

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Mechanical/Fire Protection Engineering or any related field.

FLSA STATUSUnited States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We are seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity and collaboration, inclusion, problem solving and change making.

13th IAFSS Symposium Poster Deadline – January 30

Poster submissions have re-opened on Easy Chair for the 13th IAFSS Symposium. Final poster submission (NEW contributions): January 30, 2021. Read more here: https://uwaterloo.ca/international-symposium-on-fire-safety-science/

In light of developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the need to protect our own and extended communities, the Symposium Planning Committee, in consultation with the IAFSS Executive and Management Committees, has decided that the 13th IAFSS Symposium will be an on-line event. Further information can be found on the FAQ webpage.

IAFSS Management Committee Election Closing Nov. 30


This is a reminder that the election period for the 2021-2023 IAFSS Management Committee is open from 1 October – 30 November 2020.  Each member (paid as of 31 March 2020) is eligible to vote.  The voting is being conducted using SurveyMonkey, not IAFSS, so please check your ‘junk’ folder for the email which was sent from 
webmaster@iafss.org via SurveyMonkey member@surveymonkeyuser.com.  We have 27 candidates for 24 open positions, so please review the candidate statements and vote for up to 24 persons.  If you have any questions or did not receive the email with the link to the vote, please contact the IAFSS Secretariat at office@iafss.org.

Post-Doctoral Fellow in Fire Protection Engineering at WPI, USA

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

Applications are being sought for a qualified and motivated postdoctoral fellow to conduct research in the area of wildland fire behavior and particularly on the multi-scale physics of the interactions between fire, wind and vegetation. The primary responsibility will be to support existing research projects related to wind-tunnel experiments in the laboratory and in the field. Knowledge of CFD modeling and fire simulation tools such as FDS will be a plus as will knowledge and experience in wind-tunnel testing. Additional responsibilities will include research support on other projects and proposals, including writing grant applications. The postdoctoral fellow will be required to publish scholarly papers and to take on a mentorship role for undergraduate and graduate students. The successful candidate should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication skills.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is a one-year appointment is anticipated with a possible extension to another year. Applicants will need to provide a letter of interest, a complete CV, at least two exemplar publications, and at least three academic / research references. Applications and associated information are requested to be submitted by September 1st, 2020 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The target start date of this position is October 1st, 2020.

Posting Date: ASAP

Closing Date: until filled.

Special Instructions to Applicants Contact Person:

Albert Simeoni

Professor, Fire Protection Engineering

asimeoni@wpi.edu

508-831-6333

Responsibilities:

  • The postdoctoral fellow will be required to support and expand existing wildland fire research at WPI in collaboration with our external partners and the funding agencies.
  • The postdoctoral fellow will be required to publish scholarly papers.
  • Write proposals to seek externally funded research grants.
  • Collaborate with faculty, students and staff to contribute to the teaching and scholarly mission of the Fire Protection Engineering Department.
  • Strong use of analytical and problem-solving skills, strong written and verbal communication skills.

Position Requirements

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Mechanical/Fire Protection Engineering or any related field.

EEO Information

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against applicants due to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status or disability. We are looking for individuals who value creativity, diversity, inclusion, and collaboration.

Criminal Background check statement

A pre-employment criminal records check is required.

FLSA STATUS

United States of America (Exempt)

WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability. We are seeking individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity and collaboration, inclusion, problem solving and change making.

https://wpi.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/WPI_External_Career_Site/job/Worcester/Post-Doctoral-Fellow_R0001069

IAFSS Symposium Rescheduled to April 26 – April 30, 2021

Following the previous communications on the postponement of the 13th IAFSS Symposium, we are writing to make the announcement that the new dates of the Symposium will be April 26 – April 30, 2021, with workshops to be held on April 24 and 25. The new dates have been selected based on a careful evaluation of many factors, including the situation related to coronavirus spread and control, as well as the availability of the hosting venues. Authors of accepted papers should have recently received detailed instructions related to the publication of the proceedings. For more detailed information related to the change, please refer to ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ on the symposium website (https://uwaterloo.ca/international-symposium-on-fire-safety-science/faq-2), which has been, and will regularly be, updated as information becomes available. Any further questions can be directed to Yi Wang (yi.wang@fmglobal.com) or Karen Boyce (ke.boyce@ulster.ac.uk).   


Thank you again for all your support and hope to see you in Waterloo in 2021!

Best Regards,

IAFSS Symposium Co-chairs, on behalf of the IAFSS Executive Committee
Margaret McNamee – margaret.mcnamee@brand.lth.se
Arnaud Trouvé – atrouve@umd.edu

IAFSS 2020 Symposium Postponed

Dear IAFSS community:

In light of developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the need to protect our own and extended communities, IAFSS has taken the difficult decision to postpone the 13th Symposium planned in Waterloo, Canada. The new symposium dates will be announced as soon as possible but are expected to be in the spring of 2021.

If you have already registered for the symposium, you are encouraged to transfer your registration to the new dates.  Alternatively, you can choose to cancel with a full refund and re-register at a later date.  Detailed instructions will be sent to registered delegates as soon as they are finalized. 

Corresponding authors for the papers accepted for presentation will expect to receive a separate email in the near future regarding updates on the publication of such and student awards.  The symposium will open for new poster and image submission to allow for more recent research work to be presented. All posters and images which have been accepted to the symposium will be transferred and given opportunity to update. 

If you have any questions, please first refer to ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ on the symposium website (https://uwaterloo.ca/international-symposium-on-fire-safety-science/faq-2), which will be regularly updated as information becomes available.   Any further questions can be directed to Yi Wang (yi.wang@fmglobal.com) or Karen Boyce (ke.boyce@ulster.ac.uk).   

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your kind support.

Best Regards,

IAFSS Symposium Co-chairs 
on behalf of the IAFSS Executive Committee

Margaret McNamee – margaret.mcnamee@brand.lth.se

Arnaud Trouvé – atrouve@umd.edu

Summer School on Fire Science at the University of Maryland Announced

The Combustion Institute Summer School on Fire Safety Science at the University of Maryland will bring together graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and early-career researchers and engineers engaged in fire science as well as distinguished instructors from leading higher-education institutions and research programs in fire safety around the world. The summer school will take place on June 8-12 2020 on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park. The objectives of the summer school are to expose participants to a broad range of advanced topics with a mix between fundamental courses that emphasize the theoretical foundations of the engineering problem and application courses that describe the engineering configurations and emphasize current challenges in the engineering practice. The objectives are also to build a strong international network of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, early-career researchers, instructors and leading researchers.

The list of courses is organized into two main categories: (1) Fundamental courses that emphasize the theoretical foundations of the engineering problem (combustion science, material science, structural mechanics); and (2) Application courses that describe the engineering configurations and emphasize current challenges in the engineering practice (wildland fires, façade fires, performance-based design, suppression systems).

  • Introduction: Introduction to Fire Safety Engineering (E. Weckman, University of Waterloo)
  • Fundamentals: Combustion in Fires (B. Merci, Ghent University)
  • Fundamentals: Ignition and Flame Spread (S. McAllister, US Forest Service)
  • Fundamentals: Pyrolysis (S. Stoliarov, University of Maryland)
  • Fundamentals: Radiative Heat Transfer (X. Zhao, University of Connecticut)
  • Fundamentals: Soot (P. Sunderland, University of Maryland)
  • Applications: Flammability Tests (Y. Wang, FM Global)
  • Applications: Façade Fires (M. McLaggan, University of Queensland)
  • Applications: Wildland Fires (N. Liu, University of Science and Technology)
  • Fundamentals: Smoldering Fires (G. Rein, Imperial College)
  • Applications: Wildland-Urban Interface Fires (M. Gollner, University of California at Berkeley)
  • Applications: Performance-Based Design (P. van Hees, Lund University)
  • Fundamentals: Computational Fire Modeling (A. Trouvé, University of Maryland)
  • Workshop on Fire Modeling: ThermaKin (S. Stoliarov, University of Maryland); FDS (A. Trouvé, University of Maryland)
  • Applications: Fire Suppression and Industrial Fire Protection (Y. Xin, FM Global)
  • Fundamentals: Structural Fire Engineering (L. Bisby, University of Edinburgh)
  • Panel Discussion: Current Challenges in Fire Safety Engineering (S. Dorofeev, FM Global; A. Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; P. van Hees, Lund University)

Registration

Thanks to the financial support by the Combustion Institute and by the Burgers Program at the University of Maryland, the Combustion Institute Summer School on Fire Safety Science is offered without any registration fee for students from academia and public organizations; students from private organizations are also welcome but depending on final budget numbers, a small fee – approximately $500 – may be requested for their registration. The available budget will cover costs for lodging (shared double rooms), breaks and lunches, and handout material. Participating students are expected to cover the cost of travelling to the University of Maryland; depending on final budget numbers, partial support for travel of participating students from academia may also become available.

Application and important dates

Application material: the application package should be a single file (Microsoft® Word or PDF) that contains:

  • A cover letter (up to 2 pages) explaining the applicant’s interest in fire research and his/her motivation for the Combustion Institute Summer School on Fire Safety Science;
  • A curriculum vitae (up to 2 pages);
  • And for students enrolled in a graduate academic program, a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s academic advisor (up to 2 pages).

Applicants should submit their application package to Professor Arnaud Trouvé: atrouve@umd.edu, with the subject line “Application to the Combustion Institute Summer School on Fire Safety Science”.

Application deadline: February 28, 2020

Final decision: March 7, 2020

Note that for logistic reasons, student participation will be restricted to a maximum group size of 50 students.

Point of contact

Professor Arnaud Trouvé, Department of Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland

Phone: 1 (301) 405-8209 or Emailatrouve@umd.edu