Fire Research Engineer

Overview:

The fire modeling community is actively working to develop the tools needed to quantitatively predict material and product flammability (e.g., ignition, burning rate, fire growth). State-of-the-art fire models require accurate and efficient simulation of the tightly coupled, time-dependent condensed- and gas-phase processes that control the rate of fire growth and input parameters (material properties) that describe combustible solids' decomposition reaction mechanism (and associated kinetics and thermodynamics) and relevant heat/mass transport properties.

To address this need, the NIST Fire Research Division has been developing experimental and analytical tools to calibrate these material properties and validate their ability to predict flammability response across a range of configurations/scales (i.e., mg-scale thermal decomposition, g-scale gasification/burning, and flame spread over panels between 0.5 m and 2.5 m tall). To date, these tools have been used to characterize synthetic polymers and copolymers, fiber-reinforced composite materials, porous polymer foams, and natural- and engineered-wood-products. 

The primary focus of this project is to further develop and apply the tools and techniques needed to quantify the material properties and physical mechanisms controlling fire growth behavior (e.g., pyrolysis, soot formation, flame heat feedback, smoldering/char oxidation, sample deformation) and to advance our ability to accurately predict increasingly complex burning scenarios (e.g., varied sample/product configuration and scale). 

Keywords: 

Char Oxidation; Fire Dynamics; Fire Modeling; Fire Testing; Heat Transfer; Ignition; Material Flammability; Material Property Determination; Pyrolysis

The researcher will be responsible for:

• Construction, calibration, maintenance, and operation of experimental apparatus designed to quantify the physical and chemical mechanisms (and material properties) that control material flammability.
  • Example equipment include standardized test apparatus (e.g., thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, cone calorimetry, evolved gas analysis) and custom test apparatus that record and process signals from multiple measurement devices, interfaced through a data acquisition program such as LabVIEW.
• Collecting and analyzing measurement data from fire tests conducted across various scales. 
• Iterative development and implementation of analytical tools to process measurement data.
• Ensuring that results (i.e., measurement data) meets project leader’s quality control specifications and is adequately categorized and archived for future consumption.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Preparing samples and independently conducting bench-scale fire experiments
• Assisting in the construction and operation of intermediate- and full-scale fire experiments.
• Processing, analyzing, and reporting on (written and visualization) experimental measurements; developing and applying related uncertainty analysis tools
• Identifying, reporting, and suggesting corrective actions on tools, data, and safety-related issues.
• Supporting tech transfer of test results and staying current with relevant literature in the field.

Qualifications/Valuable Skills: 

Experience in an experimental testing, design, and research environment.

Demonstrated ability to work with programming/data analysis tools is preferred (e.g., Excel, GitHub, LabVIEW MATLAB, Python, R).

Strong oral and written communication skills.

Excellent time management and organizational skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team to learn new activities and skills.
Demonstrated general knowledge of analytical chemistry, heat and mass transfer,  fire dynamics, fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics

Majors of Interest:

Chemistry, Fire Protection Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics