Job Type: Full-time, on-site, PhD assistantship
Location: Boise, ID
Salary: graduate assistantship (renewable, 12-month stipend), tuition and fee waiver, and health insurance
Application Due Date: September 1, 2025
Description:
A position is available for a highly motivated PhD student to join an NSF-funded project that evaluates social-ecological dynamics to understand wildland fire impacts and management decisions across local to national scales. This project will advance understanding of distributive, recognitional, and procedural resource management in wildland fire contexts. The student will lead the component of the project focused on how social vulnerability is integrated into wildland fire resource allocation decision-making, and will assist with the components of the project focused on analyzing how wildland fire impacts are distributed among populations and evaluating the perceptions of affected people regarding wildland fire impacts and adaptation strategies.
The PhD student will be advised by Dr. Megan Cattau and will be an active member of the Human Environment Systems (HES) group at Boise State University. HES is a group of faculty and students committed to transdisciplinary, team-based, actionable research that addresses real-world environmental challenges. Depending on their experience and career interests, the student may choose from among a range of PhD programs at Boise State.
Interests:
Wildfire governance
Understanding how social vulnerability is integrated into wildland fire resource allocation decision-making
Co-production with wildfire practitioners
Learning more about social-ecological systems
Developing skills in geospatial analysis as well as participatory research approaches, including art-science integration
Designing and conducting semi-structured interviews and gap analysis
Student mentoring
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science or Arts (BS or BA) in Geography, Ecology, Conservation, Sociology, or a related field
Interest in wildfire governance, social vulnerability to natural hazards, and social-ecological systems research
Interest in working in collaborative, transdisciplinary teams grounded in mutual respect and responsibility
Preferred Qualifications:
Master of Science or Arts (MS or MA) in Geography, Ecology, Biology, Conservation, Sociology, Environmental Management, or a related field and/or relevant research or job experience.
Experience with qualitative research approaches (e.g., surveys, semi-structured interviews, or focus groups)
Experience with quantitative research approaches
Experience in fire research or management
Experience leading collaborations that include different types of partners (e.g., academics, practitioners, community members)
Experience developing and / or operationalizing decision support tools
Demonstrated research success through peer-reviewed publications and/or delivery of results to relevant stakeholders
To Apply:
Please submit your information via this form (https://forms.gle/n7XeHyH5CxHnRFuG6) by Sept 1, 2025. Review of applications will continue until a finalist is identified to formally apply to the selected PhD program at Boise State by the University’s October deadline.
Boise State University embraces and welcomes diversity in its faculty, student body, and staff. Accordingly, applicants who would add to the diversity and excellence of our academic community are encouraged to apply.
