Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Post-Doctoral Researcher at UL Research Institutes, based in our Columbia, Maryland office.

The Post-doctoral researcher performs independent research in preparation for a career as a scientific professional, contributing to and advancing fire dynamics and modeling research for Fire Safety. The post-doctoral researcher will assist in initiating the design, development, execution, and implementation of experiments to characterize the fluid dynamics and heat transfer of canonical fire configurations. Responsibilities include data collection, modeling, and analysis to advance the science of fire modeling by providing data and information with the goal of disseminating the research findings and methodology via peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, conferences, and on-line educational programs.

This two-year Post-doctoral researcher position is focused on addressing concerns related to advancements in the detailed understanding of the fluid dynamics and heat transfer associated with fire driven flows. The post-doctoral researcher is expected to contribute to this research problem.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Fire Safety teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)

UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world’s unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL’s public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach, and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we share with stakeholders the information, tools, and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit FSRI.org.

What you’ll learn and achieve:

As the Post-Doctoral Researcher, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Gain knowledge of making high fidelity, multi-dimensional measurements of heat and mass transfer during fire driven flows.

• Applies knowledge of scientific principles to the specific research tasks.

• Exercises a high degree of judgment in formulating, evaluating, and correlating broad research concepts, guiding the analysis of unique problems, and developing new and improved techniques and methods.

• Assume primary responsibility for development of independent research.

• Assist with experiments, data collection, evaluations, and support researchers on projects; analyze results.

• Plan, design and complete initial and follow up procedures as needed to test and validate results. 

• Perform research to a high standard and in accordance with all institutional and federal regulations.

• Collaborate with ULRI colleagues and universities.

• Contribute to and participate in webinars, conference presentations, writing papers for journal publications, facilitate training programs

What you’ll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You’ll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today’s global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what’s on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You’ll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Demonstrated knowledge of measurement techniques for temperature, velocity, and heat transfer at meter scale.

• Experience with programming languages for data analysis and/or model development such as Fortran, Python, and MATLAB.

• Proven ability to perform independent research and support publication.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain academic and applied knowledge and skills.

• Ability to collaborate with peers and work directly with other team members and external collaborators in order to complete a project from start to finish.

 Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Ph.D. in Fire Protection Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related field. Applicant should have a Ph.D. conferred within three years of application or completion of Ph.D. requirements by commencement of appointment.

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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