Funding is available to support M.S. or Ph.D. students interested in the assessment of wildfire adaptation programs or the development of fire adapted human communities. Successful candidates will work with Dr. Travis Paveglio in the Department of Natural Resources and Society at the University of Idaho. Projects will involve field work and extensive interaction with a variety of human populations (e.g. residents, land management or conservation professionals, policymakers, emergency managers, firefighters, etc.) spanning case studies in multiple states, including California, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Washington. The successful applicant(s) will help design, conduct, and publish research on the following topics: (1) human community adaptation to or planning for wildfire; (2) evaluation of policies, programs or organizations focused on tailored adaptation to wildfire among diverse human communities; and (3) how conservation and land management agencies collaborate to advance wildfire adaptation across land ownerships, including the implementation of fuels treatments. Research efforts will likely include interviews, focus groups and surveys with human populations surrounding wildfire management actions.
Preferred qualifications:
Knowledge of or experience with a variety of social science research methods
Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of non-academic or academic audiences
Experience conducting social science as it applies to wildfire, resource management, hazards or other environmental issues
An interest in applying social or policy theories to resource management or hazard management actions
A willingness to recruit for and conduct field work with a diverse range of stakeholders, including in-person interviews, drop-off surveys, focus groups, or workshops
Other desirable attributes include:
Existing experience with wildfire management or wildfire/hazard planning and mitigation
Ability to travel and stay at various research locations throughout the year
Documented experience with qualitative, quantitative, or spatial analysis techniques
Working knowledge of programs and platforms such as SPSS, NVivo, Qualtrics, and/or ArcMap
Successful candidates would start in Summer or Fall of 2023. They would work from the primary University of Idaho campus in Moscow, Idaho. To apply please send the following to Dr. Travis Paveglio at tpaveglio@uidaho.edu: (1) a short statement of interest clearly stating experience, qualifications and research interests as they relate to this project; and (2) a current curriculum vitae (CV). Qualified applicants may be contacted for additional information. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled. However, initial review of applications will begin on April 14.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Dr. Paveglio at tpaveglio@uidaho.edu or 509-595-1607. For more information about the University of Idaho M.S. and Ph.D. graduate degrees, including eligibility requirements, visit the graduate programs webpage for the College of Natural Resources.
