Research Assistantship: Wildland Fire Investigation Science and Policy

Logan, UT

October 15th, 2026

Location: Logan, Utah

Status:

Final date to receive applications: 11/16/2026

Annual stipend between $24,000 and $27,000 depending on experience

Dr. Catrin Edgeley has funding available to support one M.S. student in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University. The student will contribute to a Joint Fire Science Program-funded research project focused on strengthening the scientific foundations of wildland fire investigations within federal and state land management agencies. This project is a collaboration between Utah State University, the Forest Stewards Guild, and USDA Forest Service researchers at the Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory.

Our interdisciplinary team will integrate social science, fire science, and practitioner expertise to improve understandings of the tools and indicators used to determine wildfire origin and

The student will play a key role in documenting the current state of wildland fire investigation science and practice by:

• Conducting a review of federal fire investigation training materials, guidance documents, and related resources.
• Designing and administering a national survey of wildfire investigators across agencies and organizations to understand current training needs and opportunities.
• Spending several weeks at the Missoula Fire Lab during the summer of 2028 working with US Forest Service scientists on experimental research designed to evaluate fire pattern indicators and improve the scientific basis of wildland fire investigations.

We envision forest stewardship as a nationwide imperative.