Job Type: Full-time, on-site
Location: Austin, TX
Salary: $65,000+/year depending on qualifications
Job Description:
The University of Texas at Austin is looking for a highly motivated individual to fill a postdoctoral fellow position to assist with a variety of active and post-wildland fire research topics, including but not limited to using UAV platforms to characterize active fire thermal and gas emissions, improve spreading models and detection algorithms, and assessing post-fire effects. The aim of the project is to (1) improve the efficiency of prescribed, (2) increase the accuracy of proximal air quality estimation, (3) improve fire line thermodynamic models, (4) improve ecosystem regeneration through burning, and (5) increase situational awareness during large fire incidents.
The postdoctoral fellow will join a team developing novel thermal imagers and other sensors for UAVs to improve our observations and analytical capabilities across the active and post-fire lifecycle. The successful candidate will have the ability to work on all or a few of the research topics. The position will involve the integration of multiple geophysical datasets and interpretations, and the development of new concepts and methods to automate the processing of field data in near real-time to provide insights to wildland fire commanders regarding thermal and gas dynamics, burn intensity, and rate of spread.
This position will support the research activities investigating active fire thermal and gas emissions, spreading dynamics, and post-fire effects. This is for an in-person position at J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin.
Responsibilities:
Research and development of algorithms to characterize active and/or post-fire processes in near real-time at a variety of time and special scales from unique observations (UAVs, airborne, satellites).
Develop models of wildland fire processes and evaluate the impact on post-fire recovery. This will involve code development/automation, data collection and processing, and analysis and visualization of results.
Publish quality research results in peer-reviewed publications.
Qualifications:
Required
Ph.D. in geophysics, geology, or related field (must have been obtained within 3 years from date of hire)
Demonstrated experience and aptitude in remote sensing of complex thermal systems (e.g., fires, volcanoes, or urban heat)
Ability to develop code/algorithms for data analysis and modeling in Python or other similar platforms
Excellent data analytical skills
Demonstrated report writing and publication skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and professional demeanor
Ability to work both independently and effectively in a large group, including collaboratively with multiple discipline experts.
Preferred
Experience working on any wildland fire research, potentially with thermal datasets
Capacity to develop complex algorithms (including AL/ML) to increase analytical efficiency
Knowledge of environmental impacts (ecosystems and air quality) of wildland fires and responses to prescribed burning
Relevant peer-reviewed publications and conferences papers
Experience with writing professional-level codes as well as software for potential end users.
Working Conditions:
Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
May work in all weather conditions
May work in extreme temperatures
May work around standard office conditions
Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
Use of manual dexterity
Occasional weekend, overtime, and evening work to meet deadlines
Occasional fieldwork as necessary
Other: will be working around active prescribed fires
See the “Learn More” link below for more information.
