The IAFSS2023 workshops planning committee is looking for input into possible workshop topics as part of the IAFSS2023 symposium. We are planning on hosting all of the standing committee workshops plus a limited number on other relevant topics. Please consider completing the following survey to help us to prioritise workshop topics.
Postdoc on Experimental and Modelling Investigations of Hybrid Steel-Timber Construction Details in Fire
The Danish Institute of Fire and Security Technology (DBI) is looking for a highly qualified candidate for an Industrial Postdoc position in a project on experimental and modelling investigations of hybrid steel-timber construction details in fire. The project is a collaboration between DBI and the University of Sheffield, Dept. of Civil & Structural Eng., UK.
Read more here.
Division Chief for Fire Research Division at NIST
The NIST Engineering Laboratory is opening a search to fill the Division Chief position for the Fire Research Division. The attached document describes the position, and information about the position is also available online at https://www.nist.gov/el/about-el/careers . As noted in the announcement, interested candidates should send resumes to ELHQjobs@nist.gov by September 2, 2022.
Research Assistant/ Associate at Imperial College London: Artic fires with an emphasis on smoldering combustion and fire spread
Job summary
Applications are invited for a Research Associate to study experimentally smouldering Artic fires and join Imperial Hazelab which is the multidisciplinary research group led by Prof. Guillermo Rein based the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London. The purpose of Hazelab is to reduce the worldwide burden of accidental fires and protect people, their property, and the environment. The project, named FireFrost, is part of…
Job listing information
- Reference ENG02239
- Date posted 3 August 2022
- Closing date 31 August 2022
Assistant Professor in Fire Research, Thermo/Fluids Engineering
The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo, invites applications from exceptional scholars and researchers for two tenure track positions at the Assistant Professor level with a focus on Fire Research with an anticipated start date in May 2023. In the case of an exceptional candidate, an appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor will be considered. Click here to learn more.
Research Associate Position Open on Fire Resistance from The National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
- City: Ottawa
- Organizational Unit: Construction
- Classification: RO
- Tenure: Term
- Duration: 2 years
- Language Requirements: English
Multiple MS/PhD Students and Postdoc Positions on Wildfire Research at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
1. Open MS/PhD Student Positions – Topic: Wildfire Spread – Experiments and Modelling
Start Date: 8/15/2022 (approximate)
Applications are being sought for two Research Assistants (PhD students in Fire Protection Engineering) to conduct fundamental research in the areas of wildland fire spread and firebrands spotting, focusing on the multi-scale physics of the interactions between fire, wind and solid fuels (structural and/or vegetative). The research will include larger scale laboratory experiments and associated CFD modelling of wildfire behavior.
Applicants are expected to possess a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Fire Protection, Mechanical or Chemical Engineering (or related field) with research or educational background in fire, combustion and/or thermal sciences. Successful candidates should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication skills. Background in CFD modeling, fire experiments, and imaging processing is a plus. Funding from a federal grant for these two positions is expected to last for 2 or 3 years depending on the project.
Applications and associated information are requested to be submitted to Prof. James Urban at Jurban@wpi.edu by July 1st, 2022, but will be accepted until the position is filled. The earliest start date for these positions is August 17th, 2022.
2. Open Post-doctoral Scholar Position
(update: open to international and domestic applicants)
Start Date: 8/15/2022 (approximate)
Applications are being sought for a qualified and motivated postdoctoral fellow to conduct research in multiple areas of fire science, including but not limited to: wildland fire behavior, firebrand spotting and impact, material flammability, and microgravity fire behavior. The primary responsibility will be to support existing and upcoming projects. Experience in fire experimentation and diagnostics and/or in fire simulations (e.g., FDS and FireFOAM) is required.
Additional responsibilities will include research support on collaborative projects with collaborators, as well as proposal development and grant applications. This position may have opportunities for teaching in the areas of thermal fluids, fire dynamics, and simulations.
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 the ability to be extended. 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 to Prof. James Urban at Jurban@wpi.edu by July 1st, 2022, but will be accepted until the position is filled. The target start date of this position is August 15th, 2022.
3. Research Associate (PhD student) to conduct research in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires
Applications are being sought for one Research Associate (PhD student) to conduct research in the area of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires and particularly the development of the necessary data to parameterize numerical models of firebrand generation, transport, and deposition, with a focus on NIST’s Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The project will focus on obtaining the firebrand source terms as a function of the key factors that affect the generation of firebrands from a range of source fuels and explore the influence of particle characteristics on the transport of particles. The work will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh and Cal Poly.
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 candidate should have excellent analytical and problem-solving skills and strong written and verbal communication skills. Background in fire experiments or CFD modeling is a plus.
Applications and associated information are requested to be submitted to the attention of Prof. Albert Simeoni, at asimeoni@wpi.edu by June 30th, 2022 but will be accepted until the position is filled. The start date for this position is expected to be August 24th, 2022.
Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer in Fire Engineering, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Te Tari Pūhanga Metarahi, Rawa Taiao | Department of Civil and Natural Resource Engineering
Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand
- Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
- Fixed-Term (3 year) position
Āu Mahi | What You Will Do
Applications are invited for a three-year fixed-term position in the Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering at the level of Lecturer/ Senior Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor/ Professor in the US System).
This is an exciting opportunity to participate in the further growth of the fire engineering programme in a dynamic and productive department. Research and teaching interests in one or more of the following areas would be an advantage (though applicants with interests in other fire engineering specialties are also encouraged to apply): fire dynamics, material behaviour in fires, fire safety systems, fire safety design practice, structures in fires, evacuation, human behaviour in fire, performance-based fire safety design, fire risk assessment or fire risk management.
Mōu | Who You Are
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline and have a demonstrated record of published research in fire engineering. The successful candidate will have a commitment to excellence in teaching of core courses in fire engineering at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and will be expected to establish a vigorous research programme. The appointee will be expected to supervise final year undergraduate projects, Masters and Ph.D. students, collaborate with others in the University, and to contribute to Departmental, College, and University activities. The appointee will also be expected to develop links with and contribute to the wider engineering profession at local, national and international levels.
Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With
The successful appointee will have access to a range of research facilities (with technical staff) and expertise in related disciplines. The Faculty of Engineering has just completed a $163 million investment of its engineering specialist laboratory wings and main teaching spaces. Staff and students now have access to some of the best modern facilities and technologies for teaching, learning and research in the southern hemisphere. Every area has been designed with the principles of highly flexible learning spaces, collaborative open areas and engineering on display. In particular, a new fire engineering laboratory with capacity to test fire and structural fire behaviour up to two-storeys high has just been commissioned. Large-scale fire testing facilities are also available from time to time at the Building Research Association New Zealand (BRANZ) in Wellington, through collaborative research programmes.
For more information about our department and team, please visit our website.
Please take a virtual tour of our Engineering facilities.
Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC
Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora – Engaged, Empowered, Making a Difference.
Based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury stands for whanaungatanga – we value people and their differences, manaakitanga – we extend care and empower others, and tiakitanga – we will enhance and nurture our resources.
The University of Canterbury is committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.
We offer a range of fantastic benefits. For more information, please visit us: http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus
For more information about the University of Canterbury, please visit www.canterbury.ac.nz
The closing date for this position is: Sunday 1st May 2022 (midnight NZ time)
Please note applications will be reviewed after the close date.
Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply
Applications for this position must be submitted online through our careers website and should include:
- a ‘cover letter’ including a 2-3 page statement outlining your research interests and goals, teaching philosophy, and thoughts on how you propose to contribute to the fire engineering programme (as a whole) in the department. a ‘resume’ which includes a list of relevant research publications.
We do not accept applications by email; however we are happy to answer your queries in relation to the application process. Please forward these to WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz
For further information specifically about the role, please contact: enquiries@civil.canterbury.ac.nz
Important Information
This role requires that you are, and remain, fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including any periodic boosters required by law or required to obtain a My Vaccine Pass), during your employment with the University of Canterbury.
In response to COVID-19 the New Zealand Government have imposed travel restrictions but have recently announced a five-step plan for a phased border re-opening. This phased re-opening will take some time and this may alter the nature of the standard interview process for offshore candidates, particularly at the on-site interview stage. To see how this might affect your application and for more information and updates on the border restrictions and phased re-opening, please visit the Immigration New Zealand website or the New Zealand Government’s official Covid-19 website.
Job Details
Reference # | 8901 |
Posted on | 21 Mar 2022 |
Closes on | 01 May 2022 23:55 |
Location(s) | Christchurch |
Expertise | Engineering |
Job level(s) | Academic, Entry/Graduate, Experienced |
Work type(s) | Fixed term full-time |
More details (document) | |
Position description 1 | Lecturer PD .pdf |
Position description 2 | Senior Lecturer PD.pdf |
Two Postdoctoral Positions in Forest Fire Research, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Santiago, Chile

The context
Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (UTFSM) has an opening for a Fire Research Postdoctoral Scholar. The position is opened in the context of the research project Anillo ACT210052 ‘Understanding the connections between abiotic stress and forest vulnerability to fires” (β-HiMap project), funded by the “Anillos Regular de Investigación en Ciencia y/o Tecnología 2021” program by the Chilean government through SCIA-ANID. The project aims to identify and quantify the links between abiotic stress and flammability of Chilean forest species.
Job description
Position 1: The postdoctoral scholar will be responsible for developing a comprehensive and challenging flammability framework which includes detailed testing and state-of-the-art theoretical and numerical modeling. The experimental methodology will follow the protocols implemented for the two bench-scale apparatuses which were developed during the α-HiMap project and will enhance these devices through the implementation of non-intrusive laser-based diagnostics to locally and globally study solid-gas and gas-gas processes relevant for the continuous and discontinuous ignition and burning rate of SL/L/D foliar fuels. The team will further develop the theoretical results of α-HiMap, aiming to study the effects of fuel moisture content and live-dead fuels on ignition, while additionally performing scaling analyses on the burning rate of these fuels under different configurations.
Work will be carried out in collaboration with Chilean, American and French universities, and international centers, including UAI, UC-Berkeley, University College London, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Sao Paulo, CSIRO and INRAE – Aix-Marseille Université. The scholar will be encouraged to apply for postdoctoral grants offered by ANID.
Position 2: The postdoctoral scholar will be responsible for identifying the physiological and biochemical responses of stressed/non stressed, live/dead (SL/L/D) foliar fuels through a set of established laboratory and analytical methodologies. Ultimately specific stress markers will be determined which have influence on fuel flammability and have the ability to be detected under field conditions in subsequent stages of this project by different techniques, ranging from direct sampling to remote sensing. This will provide novel tools to model and predict fire hazards of forest ecosystems in real time.
Work will be carried out in collaboration with Chilean, American and French universities, and international centers, including UAI, UC-Berkeley, University College London, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Sao Paulo, CSIRO and INRAE – Aix-Marseille Université. The scholar will be encouraged to apply for postdoctoral grants offered by ANID.
Benefits
Compensation includes a competitive salary and medical insurance (1.884.000 CLP gross per month). The location is in Valparaiso, Chile. The duration of the postdoctoral position is 12 months, with a start date in mid April 2022, or as soon as possible.
How to Apply
The posting shall remain open until the position is filled, however for full consideration, please apply until March 31, 2022. First selection will be notified shortly after, and selected candidates for the post will be called for an interview. Availability to start working immediately will be considered in the evaluation.
Please send a dossier with the following documents andres.fuentes@usm.cl and rodrigo.demarco@usm.cl:
- Cover Letter.
- CV (including list of publications and research projects).
- Certificate of PhD degree and a half-page file describing your thesis.
- One recommendation letter from an academic/doctoral thesis advisor.
For more information and application, contact professor Andrés Fuentes.
Desired skills and experience
- PhD in Engineering or Physical Sciences/Applied Mathematics, with a strong research background in combustion.
- Degree acquisition should not be older than January 2018. In the case of women, a year can be added for each child born within this time, prior presentation of birth certificate.
- Experience in combustion and flame diagnostics is desired.
- Experience in development and/or application of heat transfer models.
- Demonstrated research experience in bench-scale laboratory and analytic methodologies.
- Keen interest in extending mathematical and scientific computing techniques to new problems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work productively both independently and as part of a diverse and multidisciplinary team.About the employer
UTFSM was the first Latin American university to offer a doctoral program in Engineering (since 1962) and has a strong emphasis on scientific research as well as on technological higher education. The Energy Conversion and Combustion Group (EC2G) from UTFSM is one of the leading research labs in combustion in South America. Research at EC2G has focused on the development of experimental and numerical techniques to improve the understanding of the physical and chemical phenomena controlling combustion processes, with applications in energy conversion and fire safety.
IAFSS Newsletter – Fire Safety News No 47
The December 2021 edition of the IAFSS Newsletter, the official newsletter of the IAFSS is now available.