Funded interdisciplinary PhD opportunity: Collaborative approaches to prescribed and cultural fire in British Columbia, Canada
Location: Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia – Vancouver
Funding: Stipend for up to 5 years, plus additional funding for research and professional development. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to seek additional funding via internal and external scholarships and awards.
Deadline: 4/30/2025
Start Date: September 2025 (flexible to January 2026 for international applicants/the right applicant if needed)
Project title: Collaborative approaches to prescribed and cultural fire in British Columbia, Canada: assessing ecological and socio-cultural outcomes to support revitalization and relationship building through fire
Project description: The successful applicant will be member of the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia – Vancouver and work in partnership with BC Wildfire Service and Stu̓ xwtéws (Bonaparte First Nation). They will lead community-engaged research to examine the diversity of social and cultural outcomes of collaborative prescribed and cultural burn projects and the effect of prescribed fire on culturally important grassland communities, with the aim of informing eco-cultural restoration and strengthening partnerships and relationship building through fire.
Essential Qualifications and Competencies:
Master’s level research (or equivalent), in ecology, natural resource management, geography, environmental or Indigenous studies, or related fields
Experience or strong demonstrated interest in conducting interdisciplinary and community-engaged research (social and ecological sciences)
Commitment to building respectful and reciprocal research relationships with First Nation partners
Strong skills in qualitative social science and/or vegetation ecology methods and analytical tools
Strong English-language verbal and written communications skills
