"Professional Research Assistant"

Our interdisciplinary, researcher-practitioner collaborative team (https://wildfireresearchcenter.org/) is looking for a highly motivated researcher with strong quantitative skills and a keen interest in research that informs practice. The researcher will work with the team’s novel dataset, which is currently comprised of 26,000 geo-coded, parcel-level wildfire risk assessments matched with 8,000 household survey responses across 20 projects in 6 Western U.S. states. Similar data from additional projects will be added to the dataset as available. This unique dataset allows for analysis at multiple scales within and across varied types of fire-prone communities. It also allows the investigation of research questions at a broader scale than possible for individual case studies.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

IBS is a research institute at the University of Colorado Boulder. Since its establishment in 1957, IBS has provided a setting for interdisciplinary, collaborative research on problems of societal concern. By engaging faculty from all the social and behavioral sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, IBS encourages work that transcends disciplinary boundaries, that illuminates the complexity of social behavior and social life, and that has important implications for social policy; IBS researchers are expected to conduct research that fulfills that mission. IBS is organized into five research programs, each defined by an interdisciplinary area of research and directed by a senior research scientist. This recruitment is sponsored by the Institute’s Environment & Society Program, with support from the Population Program, Health & Society Program, and the Program on International Development. IBS and CU Boulder have strong commitments to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion for all members of our community and for the subjects of our research.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The researcher will contribute to the intellectual work of the projects, including literature review; statistical analyses of project data; and development of peer reviewed papers. The researcher will primarily work on developing scholarly publication(s) focused on analysis of the existing compiled dataset.

Once familiar with the dataset and approach, the researcher will be expected to take the lead in using the team’s novel dataset to conduct original research on the social dimensions of wildfire risk mitigation, preparation, and/or fuels management in fire-prone communities. Individual study topics will be co-developed in collaboration with the team and project wildfire practitioner partners. The resulting work will contribute to actionable research that can be used by wildfire practitioners and resource managers, and that adds to academic literature.

What We Can Offer

$67000.00.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

We are looking for a curiosity-driven, collaborative researcher with research experience in social science (e.g., sociology, geography, economics) with strong quantitative skills and demonstrated experience working with social data. Master’s degree required.

What We Would Like You to Have

Interest/knowledge of research on the social dimensions of wildfire and/or public land management, hazards/disasters, and experience using census data. GIS skills.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter

(Optional) Transcripts/Proof of Degree: If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources Department using an approved online vendor. However, if your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit an English-translated version as an Optional document.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until 11/30/2025.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.