Postdoctoral Fellowship in Adaptive Silviculture and Wildfire Risk Management
ABOUT THE POSITION
The John Prince Research Forest in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow (PDF) for a 3-year term.
The aim of the position is to advance research related to how climate adaptive silviculture can be used to reduce near-, mid- and long-term wildfire risk while maintaining critical forest ecosystem services such timber, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. The project will leverage data and infrastructure from the operational-scale Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change (ASCC) research installation at the John Prince Research Forests (JPRF); a unique research forest that is co-managed by the Tl’azt’en Nation,Binche Whut’en and the University of Northern British Columbia.
The PDF will engage with Indigenous, university, industry and government researchers and managers to identify and address critical knowledge gaps regarding wildfire risks at stand and landscape levels. More specifically, the position will explore how adaptive silviculture treatments impacts forest fuel composition, forest development post-harvest, mid-term wildfire risk, and our ability to regenerate forests that have reduced fire risk in the future. The researcher will build on existing empirical forest data, climate and micro-site data, and remote sensing data that has been collected at the JPRF ASCC site over the past five years. Experience working with remote sensing data and aerial LiDAR, will be a definite asset.
The JPRF ASCC installation is part of the ASCC network, a set of experimental silvicultural trials across different forest ecosystem types throughout North America (www.adaptivesilviculture.org). The PDF will have the opportunity to engage and collaborate with this international research network, as well as explore climate adaptive silviculture solutions with local communities. This project will build foundational knowledge related to wildfire risk and adaptive silviculture, while also developing operational recommendations to improve wildfire resilience.
The PDF will be based at the University of Northern British Columbia but will work collaboratively with researchers from JPRF, the BC Ministry of Forests, local communities, and the ASCC research network. Ché Elkin (University of Northern BC), Dexter Hodder (JPRF), and Kristen Waring (NAU) are the project leads.
JOB DESCRIPTION
- The PDF will lead research into how climate adaptive silviculture may be used to mitigate wildfire risk, while maintaining other forest services. The research will inform operational recommendations to improve wildfire resilience in the near- to long-term.
- The PDF will be responsible for writing and publishing collaborative peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as associated data collection and management.
- Primary knowledge areas include wildfire ecology, forest ecology, disturbance ecology, remote sensing, silviculture, and habitat modelling.
- The PDF will work with a team to develop data layers and inventories that can be used across various research questions.
- The PDF will have demonstrated experience with project management and collaborative science that involves quantitative analyses.
SALARY AND TERM
- The position is for a 3-year term. We are looking to fill the position as soon as possible.
- The salary is $66500 and benefits consistent with those provided by the University of Northern BC. There are some funds for travel associated with the position.
- This successful applicant will be based at the Prince George campus of the University of Northern BC, but will also be expected to work at JPRF and meet with collaborators through regular field and/or video-conference meetings.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum qualifications are a PhD degree that is focused on forest ecology, wildfire ecology, silviculture or ecological modelling.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a collaborative team setting.
- Experience working with aerial laser scanning (ALS, LiDAR) data an asset.
- Demonstrated expertise with quantitative analysis. Ability to code in R or Python an asset.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Please send a CV and cover letter to Dr. Ché Elkin (che.elkin@unbc.ca) with the subject line “Wildfire Risk PostDoc Application”. In your cover letter briefly address how you meet each of the requirements of the position. Also, please explain your research strengths and the questions you might pursue as part of a broad effort to improve forest management that is aimed at mitigating wildfire risks. If you have questions about the position, please contact Dr. Elkin.
We plan to fill the position as soon as possible.
https://adaptivesilviculture.org/john-prince-research-forest/
ABOUT UNBC AND JPRF
Since its founding in 1990, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has emerged as one of Canada’s best small research-intensive universities, with a passion for teaching, discovery, people, and the North. UNBC’s excellence is derived from community-inspired research, hands-on learning, and alumni who are leading change around the world.
Since time immemorial, Indigenous peoples have walked gently on the diverse traditional territories where the University of Northern British Columbia community is grateful to live, work, learn, and play. We are committed to building and nurturing relationships with Indigenous peoples, we acknowledge their traditional lands, and we thank them for their hospitality. UNBC’s largest campus in Prince George is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh, in the spectacular landscape near the geographic centre of beautiful British Columbia.
UNBC consistently ranks in the top three in its category in the annual Maclean’s university rankings. UNBC also recently placed among the top five per cent of higher education institutions worldwide by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
With a diverse student population, the University is friendly, inclusive, and supportive. Prince George is a city of ~80,000 people with impressive cultural, educational, and recreational amenities. For more information about living and working in Prince George, please refer to
Make your mark with this leading post-secondary institution.
The John Prince Research Forest is a unique institution that is co-managed by Tl’azt’en Nation, Binche Whut’en, and UNBC. The partners oversee a 165 km2 landbase where they seek to develop innovative approaches to natural resource conservation and management that combines First Nations’ traditional and western scientific approaches to understanding the natural world. Researchers from Indigenous communities and academic institutions join forces to examine research questions that seek to expand their mutual understanding of forest ecosystems. In doing this, they come to learn and appreciate each other’s cultures and approaches to the generation of knowledge. The land also provides the setting and focus of a series of experiential learning and research programs that have brought greater understanding around local natural resource systems and their stewardship.