Research Associate – Fire Ecology & Remote Sensing

About the role

The Fire Ecology and Remote Sensing Lab at UBC Okanagan is seeking a full‑time Research Associate to advance its interdisciplinary program on fire behaviour modelling, climate modelling, and remote sensing. The appointment is initially for two years, with the possibility of extension based on performance and funding.

Key responsibilities

• Design, implement and manage fire‑behaviour and fire‑weather/climate modelling analyses.
• Analyse and interpret remote‑sensing datasets (satellite, UAV, LiDAR) related to fire, fuels and landscape‑scale research.
• Develop and adapt machine‑learning and deep‑learning approaches for fire‑behaviour prediction, climate downscaling, or remote‑sensing data analysis.
• Create reproducible computational workflows and data products for internal and agency partners.
• Contribute to competitive grant applications and research funding proposals.
• Prepare figures, reports, manuscripts and presentations for scientific publications and meetings.
• Provide technical mentorship and training to graduate students and lab personnel.
• Collaborate with external partners, fire‑management agencies and Indigenous communities across Canada.

Required profile

• Expertise in fire‑behaviour and climate modelling.
• Strong background in remote sensing (satellite, UAV, LiDAR).
• Experience applying machine‑learning or deep‑learning techniques to environmental data.
• Ability to conduct field work and travel across Canada and internationally as needed.
• Proven record of scientific publishing and grant‑writing.
• Capacity to mentor graduate students and work within multidisciplinary teams.

Required skills

• Fire‑behaviour modelling
• Climate modelling
• Remote sensing (satellite, UAV, LiDAR)
• Machine learning
• Deep learning
• Computational workflow development
• Data analysis

What we offer

• Salary of $6,400 CAD per month.
• Full‑time, two‑year fixed‑term appointment with potential extension.
• Opportunities for field work, national and international travel, and collaboration with government and Indigenous partners.
• Support for scientific publishing and professional development.