The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (https://fpe.umd.edu) at the University of Maryland – College Park (UMD) is looking for a motivated post-doctoral fellow to lead a project on rapid suppression of wildland fire. UMD is building a multidisciplinary team to enter the XPRIZE Wildfire Competition (https://www.xprize.org/prizes/wildfire) and expects the post-doctoral fellow to serve as one of the managers on this team. This is an 18-month appointment with a possible extension. We are looking for a candidate with a recent PhD in fire, mechanical or aerospace engineering. Experience with fire suppression and/or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is desirable but not required. Interested candidates should send their CV and a list of references to Prof. Stanislav I. Stoliarov (stolia@umd.edu). For best consideration, please submit your application on or before March 1, 2024.
IAFSS Newsletter – Fire Safety News No 50
Xinyan Huang
Oct 20, 2023
Download Newsletter No. 50 from https://iafss.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/00-No-50-Fire-Safety-Science-News_v10.pdf
PhD Studentship in Wildland Fire
Applications are invited for a fully-funded PhD studentship (Home/EU & International Students) at the Edinburgh Fire Research Centre at The University of Edinburgh. The focus of the project will be investigating the role of vegetation structure on wildfire behaviour particularly given the varying composition and structure of many natural landscapes as a result of climate effects and changes in land management/use.
For more information and how to apply, click here.
Please fell free to contact Dr Zakary Campbell-Lochrie (Z.Campbell.Lochrie@ed.ac.uk) with any questions about this role.
Post-Doctoral Research Position: Wildfire Recovery and Risk Reduction in Northern California
Position Length: 16 months, flexible start date as soon as January 2024
Location: Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science, University of North Texas
We seek a full-time motivated post-doctoral researcher to coordinate qualitative and geospatial data collection and analysis activities for a research project on wildfire recovery funded by the Joint Fire Science Program. The successful applicant will join an interdisciplinary research team from the University of North Texas, USDA Forest Service, and the University of California Berkeley.
Using a coupled social-ecological approach, this research seeks to understand how post-wildfire recovery and mitigation alters future wildfire vulnerability. The post-doctoral researcher will take a leadership role on analysis of stakeholder interviews regarding post-fire programs and outcomes in two counties in Northern California (Lake & Sonoma Counties). Qualitative data analysis and collation of geospatial data will inform wildfire risk modeling and community stakeholder engagement.
More details: https://jobs.untsystem.edu/postings/77138
Post-Doctoral Fellow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Application link: https://wpi.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/WPI_External_Career_Site/job/Worcester/Post-Doctoral-Fellow_R0002572
JOB TITLE: Post-Doctoral Fellow
LOCATION: Worcester
DEPARTMENT NAME: Fire Protection Engineering – NFR JM
DIVISION NAME: Worcester Polytechnic Institute – WPI
JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY: Applications 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 and an ongoing research project by the Department of Justice and expand the research on providing 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 an additional year.
To apply: Please 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 October 31st, 2023 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The target start date of this position is December 1st, 2023 but January 1st 2024 will also be accepted.
Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Mechanical/Fire Protection Engineering or any related field.
An annual increase of 3% is possible for satisfactory progress in position
FLSA STATUSUnited States of America (Exempt)
WPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively seeks to increase the diversity of its workplace. 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. It seeks individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to a culture of creativity, collaboration, inclusion, problem solving, innovation, high performance, and change making. It is committed to maintaining a campus environment free of harassment and discrimination.
PhD Studentship in Battery Fire Safety at Imperial College London
About the Project
Applications are invited for a research studentship in the field of energy storage, leading to the award of a Ph.D. degree. The focus will be on advancing fundamental understanding of thermal and fire hazards of lithium-ion batteries, which will underpin the development of safety control strategies and countermeasures for lithium-ion batteries. The post is supported by full bursary and fees at the UK student rate for ‘home’ students.
Project Description
Lithium-ion batteries play an important role in advancing the electrification of road transport and facilitating a swift transition towards renewable energy sources. Although they are generally stable under normal conditions, lithium-ion batteries are inherently flammable and susceptible to thermal runaway when exposed to abuse or internal defects. As the demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to soar, understanding their thermal and fire hazards throughout their lifecycle has become imperative.
This research aims to contribute fundamental insights into the intricate interplay between battery cycling conditions and thermal and fire hazards. The research will involve the coupling of a cutting-edge battery electrochemical model with an advanced thermal runaway model, which will be parameterised and validated using experimental data. The project outcomes will lay a scientific foundation for enhancing safety of future energy storage systems.
You will be an enthusiastic and self-motivated person who meets the academic requirements for enrolment for the PhD degree at Imperial College London. You will hold, or be expected to achieve, a Master’s degree or a 4-year undergraduate degree at 2:1 level (or above) in a relevant subject, e.g. Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry, Physics or a related field. You are expected to have an enquiring and rigorous approach to research, complemented by a strong intellect and disciplined work habits. A willingness to work on both computations and experiments, with excellent teamwork and communication skills, is essential.
To find out more about research at Imperial College London in this area, go to:
For information on how to apply, go to:
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/mechanical-engineering/study/phd/how-to-apply/
For further details of the post, please contact Dr Huizhi Wang, huizhi.wang@imperial.ac.uk. Interested applicants should send an up-to-date curriculum vitae to Dr Huizhi Wang. Suitable candidates will be required to complete an electronic application form at Imperial College London in order for their qualifications to be addressed by College Registry.
Closing date: until post filled
Opening for Assistant/Associate Professor in Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland
The Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland is pleased to announce an opening for a tenure-track faculty position. For best consideration, applications should be submitted by 11/28/2023Complete details are at https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/111664 and https://fpe.umd.edu/news/story/applications-open-for-two-faculty-positions. For more information, please contact Stanislav Stoliarov (stolia@umd.edu), Search Committee Chair.
Fire Safety Science – Wildland/WUI Fire Behavior Summer School Presentations
The PPT presentations and video lectures of Summer School on “Fire Safety Science – Wildland/WUI fire behavior”, organized on June 5-9, 2023, by the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland, are now available through the summer school website at https://ssfss2023.umd.edu/program/.
Learn from 20 international experts. Listen to the engineering point of view on wildland/WUI fire behavior. Join us in trying to develop solutions to these growing fire problems! Also, please spread the word on these resources and share this material with fellow students and colleagues!
LOF&BE Announces Workshop Schedule for October 2023
LOF&BE has released their workshop schedule for October 2023 in Tsukuba, Japan. Complete details are available here.
Post-doc position at DBI
The danish institute of fire and security technology (DBI) is looking for a self-motivated and independent professional, holding a PhD in a relevant field, and interested in bridging the gap between research and real world applications.
The successful candidate will be a part of a multi-cultural team, working under the guidance of esteemed professors from Aarhus University, the University of South-Eastern Norway and the local supervision at DBI.
Interested researchers can read more and apply here before 15th September 20!
Dr Natalia Flores-Quiroz is a researcher with experience in fire safety engineering. She worked for five years as a fire safety engineer in the mining industry before joining academia. She holds a MSc in fire safety from Ghent University, and her PhD focused on Fire investigations in Informal Settlements. Currently she is a lecturer at Stellenbosch University, where her main research areas are reconstruction of incidents in low-income settlements (i.e., informal settlements, refugee camps) and wildland urban interface (WUI) fires.
Bronwyn Forrest is a 3rd year PhD student at the University of Waterloo, conducting multi-disciplinary research investigating human physiological response to fire exposure. Bronwyn graduated in 2017 with a BSc. Honours Kinesiology and in 2020 with a MASc. Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering (Heat Release Rate in Ventilation-Limited Furniture Fires) before merging her two degrees in her PhD research. As a senior graduate student in the Fire Research Group, Bronwyn spear-heads large-scale fire experiments, mentors junior graduate and undergraduate students, and has recently set-up a new ‘human exposure lab’ at the Fire Research Facility where she leads new research in that area. Since her induction into the world of fire science, Bronwyn has grown more and more passionate about the multi-faceted nature of emerging fire safety challenges. Through innovative research, she hopes to make meaningful contributions that help shape changes to fire safety over the course of her career.
Dr. (HDR) Eric Guillaume has worked in fire sciences since 1998. He formerly led the fire behaviour department of SNCF (French Railway), then changed company in 2005 to join LNE (The French National Laboratory for Testing and Metrology) as head of Fire safety studies department, and later as head of research for whole testing activities of LNE. Nowadays (since 2015), he works for Efectis France, first as Technical Director and more recently as General Manager of the company, leading one of the most important fire testing and fire safety engineering companies in Europe (With approx. 180 people and 28 M€ turnover)
Dr. Albert Simeoni is Professor and the Department Head of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He is the WPI site director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center (WIRC), an Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States. Dr. Simeoni has served IAFSS by being chair or co-chair of the Wildland Fire track (2014, 2020 and 2023), Co-chair of the Awards Committee for the Best Thesis Awards (2023), Associate-Editor of Fire Safety Journal (2010-2015), member of the Editorial Board of Fire Safety Journal (since 2016), and Contributing Editor of Fire Safety Science News (since 2011).
Brian J. Meacham, PhD, PE (CT&MA), EUR ING, CEng (UK), FIFireE, FSFPE, is the Managing Principal of Meacham Associates. He develops risk-informed performance-based solutions to complex building and infrastructure challenges, provides peer-review services, and undertakes building and fire regulatory system studies. He also conducts research in these areas as well as in sustainable and fire resilient built environments and fire safety technologies. Brian has authored more than 300 publications, given more than 300 presentations and has been awarded more than $4M in research funding. His prior positions include Associate Professor of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Principal at Arup, Technical Director and Research Director at SFPE, and fire safety engineer in Europe and the USA. Brian is Chair of the ICC Performance Code Committee, Chair of the NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Risk Assessment Methods, Immediate Past Chair of the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS), a Past President of the SFPE, and a past Chair of the Inter-jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee (IRCC). He is a licensed Professional Engineer in CT and MA, a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers (UK), a registered European Engineer (EUR ING), a Fellow of the SFPE, and a Fulbright Global Scholar.
Kazunori Harada is a professor of architecture & architectural engineering at Kyoto University, Japan. He has a career in fire research for over 35 years. He has authored 14 IAFSS symposium papers. His expertise covers the fire resistance of construction materials, smoke movement and control, burning of combustibles in open and compartment, performance-based code & design of buildings and so on. He serves as a vice president of AOAFST, Asia-Oceania Association of Fire Science and Technology. He also serves as the Convenor of ISO/TC92/SC4 WG9, calculation methods for fire safety engineering (FSE), which develops calculation standards concerning FSE.
Enrico Ronchi is an Associate Professor at Lund University, Sweden. His research and education activities are focused on evacuation and human behaviour in case of building fires and wildfires. His work has been published in over 150 publications (including >90 peer-reviewed journal papers). He is currently Associate Editor for the journals Fire Technology and Safety Science and member of the editorial board of the Fire Safety Journal.
Jennifer Wen is currently Professor of Energy Resilience in the School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, University of Surrey as Professor. Previously, Jennifer held positions at Computational Dynamics Limited (founding vendor of STAR-CCM), British Gas plc, South Bank University, Kingston University London, and University of Warwick. She is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and Vice-Chair for Research for the International Association for Fire Safety Science. Jennifer is also a member and sub-task leader of the European Safety Panel on Hydrogen Safety (EHSP) established by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (now Clean Hydrogen Partnership) of the European Commission. She is an Associate Editor for the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.
Dr Wojciech Węgrzyński is with ITB, that is the Polish Building Research Institute in Warsaw. He currently holds the position of the Deputy Head of Fire Research Department and the Professor of the Institute, and a Director at SFPE Europe. He is the Author of 40 peer-reviewed papers published in all of the primary FSE journals. His main area of interest is the fundamentals of compartment fire dynamics and standardized fire testing, and also: use of computational fluid dynamics in fire, wind and fire interaction and evaluation of the effects of the spread of smoke in buildings. His research is focused on the impact of the architectural context of the building on the smoke control performance, as well as finding solutions to make the smoke exhaust systems cheaper and more efficient. Member of the Sub-committee for Research of the IAFSS. 2018 NFPA Harry C. Bigglestone Award Recipient; 2019 Jack Watts Award Recipient; 2020 SFPE 5 Under 35 Award Recipient. Member of Editorial Board of ‘Fire Technology. Hosts a fire podcast at 
Dr. Shuna Ni is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park. She received her Ph.D. degree at Texas A&M University in 2018 and her Master’s degree at Tongji University in 2013. Dr. Ni’s research focuses on fire forensics, structural fire engineering, WUI fire resilience, fire safety of tall mass-timber buildings and fire-related multiple hazards. Her research has been funded by National Science Foundation, National Institute of Justice, Fire Protection Research Foundation, University Transportation Centers under the Department of Transportation, Grand Challenges Grants Program at the University of Maryland and industrial partners.
Brian Lattimer, Ph.D. is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech where he performs experimental and computational research on fire safety and disaster resilience. He has nearly 30 years of experience in fire related research. His research areas include material behavior in fires, fire dynamics, suppression agents, heat transfer from fires to surfaces, structural response during fire, and firefighting technology.
Yu Wang is a professor at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He got joint Ph.D. from USTC and the City University of Hong Kong in 2016 and had working experience at the University of Edinburgh, Worcester Polytechnic Institute and National University of Singapore before returning to China in 2020. His primary research areas are high-rise building fire and large outdoor fire. Yu has published over 50 SCI journal papers, and is currently an Associate Editor in Fire Technology and Editorial Board Member in Fire Safety Journal. He initiated the first English fire course at USTC, Introduction of Fire Dynamics, reported by China News and People’s Daily Online (over 260,000 audiences). In recent years, he has received SFPE Global 5 Under 35 Award, Youth May Fourth Medal (Anhui Province), Young Faculty Career Award (USTCAF), and some Best Paper/Presentation/Poster/Image Awards in IAFSS or AOSFST.
ROGAUME Thomas is an Professor at the University of Poitiers – Pprime Institute (UPR3346 CNRS), FRANCE.
Prof. Yuji Nakamura is Full Professor in Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology (TUT), appointed as Affiliate Full Professor in Center for Fire Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science (since 2014). He currently serves the Head of Energy Conversion Laboratory and appointed as Department Chair since 2024. Prof. Nakamura has made professional service in Fire Science Community served as Management Committee of IAFSS during 2021-2023, worked as Co-chair of LOC in the most recent IAFSS symposium at Tsukuba, acting Associate Editor of Fire Technology since 2014 and board member of Fire Safety Journal since 2017.
Dr Felix Wiesner is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and study the role of engineered timber in fire safety. I work in the Faculty of Forestry as part of the Wood Science department. My research focus has mostly been experimental, considering fire dynamics in timber compartments and the structural fire capacity of engineered timber products. In addition, I am interested in the performance of timber in exterior building or infrastructure setting. This closely interfaces with wildfire considerations for the wildland urban interface (WUI), especially when it comes to smouldering.
Arnaud Trouvé is Professor and Chair in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland in College Park, USA. He joined the Faculty in 2001 with a Ph.D. (1989) and Engineering Degree (1985) from École Centrale of Paris, France, and with previous experience as a combustion research engineer. Professor Trouvé’s research interests include fire modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); application of data assimilation to fire and combustion; and physical modeling of combustion- and fire-related phenomena, including compartment fires, wildland fires and explosions. Professor Trouvé is a Fellow of the Combustion Institute and the recipient of the 2017 FORUM Sjölin Award. He has served on the editorial boards of the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Combustion and Flame, and Fire Technology, and is currently on the editorial boards of Combustion Theory and Modelling and the Fire Safety Journal. Professor Trouvé is also a past Chair of the US Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute (ESSCI) and a past Member of the Executive Board of the International Association for Fire Safety Science (IAFSS). He is a co-Chair of a recent initiative endorsed by IAFSS and called the “IAFSS Working Group on Measurement and Computation of Fire Phenomena” (the MaCFP Working Group) and the past Chair of a new network of leading higher-education institutions and research laboratories in fire safety engineering called the International Fire Safety Consortium (IFSC).
Dr Xinyan Huang is an Associate Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Fire Safety Engineering. He received his PhD from Imperial College London, MSc from UC San Diego, and BEng from Southeast University, and was a Postdoc at UC Berkeley. Dr Huang is a Combustion Scientist and a Fire Safety Engineer who has co-authored over 200 journal papers. He is an Associate Editor of Fire Technology and International Journal of Wildland Fire, an editorial member of J. Building Engineering, Fire Safety J. and Fire and Materials, a Chartered Building Services and Fire Engineer, a committee member for HK Fire Safety Code, and a Fire Expert for HK High Court. He receives the NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund, Bernard Lewis Fellowship and Sugden Best Paper Award from Combustion Institute, “5 under 35” and Bono Award from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE).