Assistant Professor of the Social Dimensions of Wildfire

UBC; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Forest Resources Management at the University of British Columbia invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position on the Vancouver campus, focusing on the social dimensions of wildfire and its impacts on rural and Indigenous communities.

The successful candidate will conduct research and teach in social wildfire studies, engage with Indigenous partners, and contribute to undergraduate and graduate programs across the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental

Qualifications

• PhD in social dimensions of wildfire or related field.
• Proven teaching and research track record.
• Experience working with Indigenous Peoples and diverse organizations.
• Experience with wildfire risk mitigation in different contexts.

Responsibilities

• Assess multi-faced impacts of wildfire on society using social science methods.
• Collaborate with Indigenous Peoples, communities, NGOs and decision-makers.
• Study wildfire strategies to mitigate risks in communities and landscapes.
• Publish research and secure grants.

Skills

Social science methods

Indigenous engagement

Teaching experience

Research publishing

Education

PhD in social dimensions of wildfire

PhD in related field

Job description

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‑faced 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.

Pay and benefits

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. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision‑making modes.

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 fosters 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.