This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.
Research Title:
Wildland Urban Interface Fire Smoke Research – Experimentation and Simulation to Evaluate Efficacy of Protection Strategies
The work will entail:
Physical experimentation and advanced simulation using CONTAM IAQ modeling software to understand smoke impacts and improve protection strategies for both fire shelters and residential buildings.
Candidates must be eligible to obtain a Department of Commerce background check for facility access.
Key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
- WUI Smoke Measurement and Remediation Campaign: Participate with a team in a series of physical experiments to evaluate the direct impacts of WUI fire smoke and test the efficacy of various remediation techniques.
- Fire Shelter Impact Analysis: Utilize NIST CONTAM simulation software, this effort will analyze the smoke impacts on occupants within fire shelters. This work is specifically designed to enhance the tier classification system for fire shelters currently being developed by WPI.
- Residential Exposure Study: Use NIST CONTAM simulations driven by historical outdoor data to estimate smoke concentrations and determine likely resident exposures within residential homes during historical WUI fire events.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or related field
- Familiarity with the NIST CONTAM IAQ software including development of building project files and conducting simulations
- Familiarity with installation, calibration and operation of IAQ-related instrumentation in test houses
- Familiarity with collection and analysis of large experimental data sets
Strong oral and written communication skills
The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.