Assistant Professor

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The University of British Columbia in Vancouver invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management. The role focuses on the social dimensions of wildfire, including impacts on communities, Indigenous peoples, and policy implications, with teaching and research responsibilities across undergrad and grad programs.

Applicants should show potential for scholarly publication, collaboration, and contribution to a diverse and inclusive academic

Qualifications

• PhD in a field relevant to social dimensions of wildfire.
• Demonstrated teaching and research in wildfire social dimensions.
• Experience with Indigenous communities and knowledge co-creation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on wildfire social dimensions and policy impacts.
• Teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students.
• Publish findings and secure research funding.

Skills

Social science methods

Indigenous engagement

Policy implications

Community impacts

Research dissemination

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

Academic

Job Category

Faculty Bargaining

Job Title

Assistant Professor

Department

Department Head | Department of Forest Resources Management (Nicholas Charles Coops)

Posting End Date

November 12, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

Ongoing

The expected salary range for this position is $130,000 to 150,000 CAD.

Assistant Professor of the Social Dimensions of Wildfire

The Department of Forest Resources Management in the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at the UBC Vancouver campus. The successful applicant is expected to conduct research and teach in fields related to the social dimensions of wildfire. The costs and impacts of wildfire are growing in Canada and are disproportionately affecting rural and Indigenous communities. Further research is needed to better understand these impacts and to identify effective ways of coexisting with fire, including mitigating the risks that wildfire poses to communities and to other forest values and ecosystem services.

The UBC Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) People. As part of ongoing and University-wide efforts, the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship is committed to taking action towards meaningful reconciliation. The UBC Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship is one of the world’s leading academic institutions in forestry, conducting both national and international research, and providing undergraduate education encompassing Forest Resources Management, Forest Operations, Urban Forestry, Forest Science, Natural Resources Conservation, Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology, and Wood Products Processing. The successful applicant will be an essential part of the Faculty, contributing to the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Required qualifications :

Candidates for this position must have a PhD relevant to the social dimensions of wildfire, or a PhD combined with applied research demonstrating an understanding of the social dimensions relevant to their field of study. The focus of their scholarship should be on the challenges of increasing wildfire and wildfire risk in Canada, opportunities for mitigating those risks, and/or their consequences for society.

The successful candidate will have a potential or proven track record of teaching and research that demonstrates:

• Expertise with assessing the multi-faceted impacts of wildfire on society and people, including familiarity with social science methods;
• Experience with or a demonstrated ability to work with Indigenous Peoples, communities, practitioners, decision-makers, NGO’s and other organizations;
• Experience with or familiarity with wildfire and with strategies to mitigate its risks in different contexts, whether at the community level, in the broader forested landscape, or from a social and institutional perspective.
• Demonstrated or strong potential for scientific publishing, knowledge extension and securing research grants.

Desired qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have many of the following qualifications:

• Experience with social science research methods;
• Research on wildfire and its social dimensions;
• Experience working with Indigenous and forest-dependent communities and/or other partners (e.g. industry, NGOs, government);
• Strong interest or experience in conducting collaborative work, through existing or proposed research, teaching, leadership, service, community engagement, and outreach or other relevant activities;
• Past experience or the potential to conduct research focused in British Columbia and/or Canada;
• Evidence or interest in innovative approaches to knowledge mobilization, such as integrated knowledge mobilization, co-creative outputs, and/or contributions to policy.
• Evidence of, or strong potential for, effective and inclusive teaching and student mentorship at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and
• A demonstrated record of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in a university setting through research, teaching, and service.

The desired starting date for this position is July 1, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. Questions about the position may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Dr. Harry Nelson ([e-mail])

The expected salary range for this position is $130,000 to 150,000 CAD. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. For details, see https://hr.ubc.ca/benefits

The University of British Columbia’s primary language of instruction and research is English. Accordingly, individuals are required to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. Within this hiring process, we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates). Accessibility requests or other accommodations are available on request for all applicants. To confidentially request accommodations, please contact the Faculty of Forestry Associate Dean Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Janette Bulkan ([e-mail])

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community f orages the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.