Position Summary
Position Description
Duties and Responsibilities:
Instruction (45%):
Extension Instruction (25%)
Provide extension leadership in wildland fire science and management for Hawai‘i and the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands and support UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service in wildfire risk mitigation efforts.
Coordinate an extension program focused on wildfire risk reduction with a broad range of constituents including other extension and research faculty, research scientists, agency professionals, land management agencies, and the general public.
Develop extension materials, training modules, and decision support tools for wildfires, including fire prevention, suppression, recovery, and mitigation. Tools are not limited to but may include: social media, websites, educational displays, FAQ publications, pamphlets, and posters. Methods will be responsive to community and educational needs.
Provide science-based, best management practices for pre-fire planning, risk assessment, mitigation, and post-fire emergency response, assessment and land rehabilitation.
Coordinate efforts across extension faculty at UH on adaptation to changing climate and hazard mitigation in the context of wildfires.
Obtain internal and external grant funding to support extension program.
Academic Instruction (20%)
Teach one or two undergraduate and/or graduate courses annually in their area of expertise.
Contribute to teaching and mentoring CTAHR students through: serving on graduate student committees; providing undergraduate capstone project, internship, or mentored research opportunities; and providing guest lectures or field trips for other NREM classes.
Research (35%):
Conduct applied research to support Extension Instruction program in one or more areas including: (i) characterizing environmental and anthropogenic drivers of wildfire occurrence and behavior in Hawai‘i and other Pacific Island ecosystems, including climate change, urban-wildland interface, land-use history, ignition sources, and vegetation and fuels management associated with nonnative plant invasions; (ii) quantifying the impacts of wildfire on natural and cultural resources and human communities; and (iii) developing best management practices contributing to sustainable strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence and severity and rehabilitate burned lands, particularly as associated with non-native vegetation.
Publish peer-reviewed academic papers and technical reports.
Assess stakeholder needs for information and training on best management practices for wildfire prevention and management and rehabilitation of burned lands.
Evaluate and report on program effectiveness and impacts.
Obtain internal and external grant funding to support research program.
Advise graduate students (Master of Environmental Management (MEM), MS and PhD).
Service (20%):
Participate in Department, College and University service, including serving on graduate committees, department and University committees, faculty senates, or managing general use scientific facilities.
Contribute to local or national professional societies by reviewing for or editing academic or professional books or journals, serving as officer or on the board of professional organizations, organizing professional conferences, workshops, or training programs, judging entries at national meetings, serving on review committees for grants or programs, or judging student entries at local or national science fairs.
Contribute to the Hawai‘i community through policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change. This service will be achieved through service on boards or advising local non-profits working in the area of conservation, natural resources, or other area of professional expertise, or providing unpaid subject matter expertise or testimony in areas of expertise.