"PDRA in EEO Fire Modelling"

University of Reading - Geography & Environmental Science

Location:	Reading
Salary:	£36,636 per annum.
Hours:	Full Time
Contract Type:	Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On:	30th January 2026
Closes:	27th February 2026
Job Ref:	SFR52747

Full-time, fixed-term contract (initially for 15 months with the potential for extension subject to funding)

Closing date: 23:59 on 27/2/2026

Interview date: 11/3/2026

By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route. Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying. There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

The PDRA in EEO Fire Modelling will work on the LEMONTREE (Land Ecosystem Models based On New Theory, observations and Experiments) project and will be part of a team of scientists developing a theoretical basis for modelling wildfire-vegetation interactions, based on eco-evolutionary optimality (EEO) theory. The PDRA will be explicitly responsible for extending the current EEO modelling framework to simulate wildfire occurrence on a weekly timestep, including incorporating modules for vegetation cover, fuel load and drying, and propensity to burn. They will also be responsible for evaluating and optimising the performance of the modelling framework using field and laboratory experiments.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A PhD in environmental science or closely related discipline by the start date of the appointment.
• A good understanding of the environmental controls on wildfires.
• Familiarity with current statistical and process-based approaches to wildfire modelling.
• Broad understanding of eco-evolutionary optimality concepts and modelling.
• Good programming skills, specifically R and Python.
• Familiarity with statistical approaches used for model evaluation.
• Previous research experience and publication record.
• The ability to use own initiative and plan, manage and prioritise workload effectively to meet varied and strict project delivery deadlines.

Interviews will be held in March 2025, with the expectation that the appointment will start as soon as possible thereafter.

Contact details for advert:
Contact Name: Sandy P. Harrison
Contact Job Title: Professor
Contact Email Address: s.p.harrison@reading.ac.uk