Research Project Scientist/Engineer

Institute for Business and Home Safety; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary &

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick &

Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Job summary

The Institute for Business and Home Safety in the United States seeks an early-career Research Project Scientist/Engineer to support IBHS research on how wildfire exposures affect homes, businesses and communities. This role helps plan and conduct lab and field studies focused on structure ignition, fire spread, building materials, and practical wildfire mitigation strategies.

Join a collaborative team to design experiments, collect and analyze data, and translate findings into actionable

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field is required.
• Proficiency with analytical tools such as Python, MATLAB, R, LabVIEW, GIS, or C++ is required.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Support planning and execution of laboratory, full-scale, and field research projects.
• Conduct experiments involving wildfire exposures (wind-blown embers, radiant heat, direct flame).
• Help develop test plans, procedures, schedules, and technical documentation.
• Coordinate with lab, instrumentation, construction, and safety teams for testing.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and QA/QC experimental and field data.
• Use data analysis or visualization tools to interpret findings.
• Participate in field studies and post-wildfire investigations.
• Prepare technical reports, figures, and summaries.
• Translate research findings into practical wildfire-resilience guidance.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

R

LabVIEW

GIS

C++

Education

Master’s degree in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, materials science, forestry, atmospheric science, or related field

Tools

Instrumentation & sensor testing

Job description

Position Summary

The Research Project Scientist/Engineer is an early-career position responsible for supporting IBHS research into how wildfire exposures affect homes, businesses, and communities. Working with IBHS researchers and Research Center teams, this position helps plan and conduct laboratory and field research focused on structure ignition, fire spread, building materials, and practical wildfire mitigation strategies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the planning and execution of laboratory, full-scale, and field research projects.
• Conduct experiments involving wildfire exposures such as wind-blown embers, radiant heat, and direct flame contact.
• Assist with developing research scopes, test plans, experimental procedures, schedules, and technical documentation.
• Coordinate with laboratory, instrumentation, construction, and safety teams to prepare and conduct testing.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and quality-check experimental and field data.
• Use programming, statistical, or data-visualization tools to analyze research findings.
• Participate in field studies and post-wildfire investigations.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, figures, and research summaries.
• Support the translation of research findings into practical wildfire-resilience guidance.
• Follow all research, laboratory, and safety requirements.

• Master’s degree in fire protection engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, materials science, forestry, atmospheric science, or a closely related field required.
• Graduate research and/or 1-2 years of hands-on experimental research required.
• Proficiency with at least one analytical tool, such as Python, MATLAB, R, LabVIEW, GIS, or C++, required.
• Eligible to work in the United States required.
• Graduate research involving wildfire, fire science, building performance, experimental testing, heat transfer, combustion, or data analysis preferred.
• Experience with instrumentation and sensor-based testing is a plus.
• Experience with experimental design, statistical analysis, data visualization, and QA/QC of research data is a plus.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development