Principal Research Scientist - Fire Safety Research Institute

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Research Scientist at UL Research Institutes, based in our Columbia, Maryland office.

The Principal Research Scientist serves as a senior technical expert contributing to the design, execution, and communication of advanced research efforts at the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). This role leads high-impact projects in support of strategic initiatives that enhance fire safety, emergency response, and public risk reduction. This individual applies deep technical expertise across data science, geospatial systems, fire dynamics, fire risk modeling, and emergency response analytics to deliver actionable insights, tools, and innovations that benefit the fire service and broader community.

UL Research Institutes:

At UL Research Institutes (ULRI), we expand the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For more than a century, we have studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk and shared our findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. We identify critical safety and sustainability issues, asking the tough questions because we believe a safer world begins with knowledge.

Build a safer, more secure, and sustainable future with us. Join us and work with our Fire Safety teams who conduct the research required to produce that knowledge and put into practice.

Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI)

UL's Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) advances fire safety knowledge to address the world's unresolved fire safety risks and emerging dangers. As part of UL Research Institutes, we are committed to sharing our fire safety insights with everyone to advance UL's public safety mission of providing safe living and working environments for people everywhere. Through advanced fire science, rigorous research, extensive outreach, and education in collaboration with our international network of partners, we share with stakeholders the information, tools, and resources that enable them to make better, more fire-safe decisions that ultimately save lives and property. To learn more, visit FSRI.org.

What you'll learn and achieve:

As the Principal Research Scientist, you will play a key role in the rapid growth of UL as you:

• Lead the design, execution, and dissemination of complex research studies aligned with FSRI's mission.

• Develop and implement advanced analytical models, software tools, and geospatial solutions that inform fire safety and emergency response decisions.

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including research scientists, fire service professionals, government partners, and academic institutions.

• Translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences, including development of educational and informational materials.

• Serve as a principal investigator or lead author on high-visibility projects, reports, and peer-reviewed publications.

• Mentor and guide junior researchers, post-docs, and interns in scientific methodology, research design, and analysis.

• Represent FSRI at national and international conferences, workshops, and technical forums.

• Continuously monitor emerging technologies, trends, and research to inform strategy and maintain technical leadership.

• Perform other duties as directed

What you'll experience working at UL Research Institutes: We have pursued our mission of working for a safer, more secure, and sustainable world for nearly 130 years, embedding conscientious stewardship into everything we do.

• People: Our people make us special. You'll work with a diverse team of experts respected for their independence and transparency and build a network, because our approach is collaborative. We collaborate across disciplines, organizations, and geographies to build the global scientific response that today's global challenges require.

• Interesting work: Every day is different for us here. We see what's on the horizon and use our expertise to build the foundations of a safer future. You'll have the opportunity to push the boundaries of human understanding as part of a team working to advance the public good.

• Grow and achieve: We learn, work, and grow together through targeted development, reward, and recognition programs.

• Values. Four core values guide our work: collaboration, respect, integrity, and beneficence. By living our values, we inspire the trust essential to fulfilling our mission and foster the partnerships that enable us to pursue a beneficent future in which we all can thrive.

• Total Rewards: All employees at UL Research Institutes are eligible for bonus compensation. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans and a generous 401k matching structure of up to 5% of eligible pay. Moreover, we invest an additional 4% into your retirement saving fund after your first year of continuous employment. Depending on your role, you may be able to discuss flexible working arrangements with your manager. We also provide employees with paid time off, including vacation, holiday, sick, and volunteer days.

What makes you a great fit:

While no one candidate will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional competencies and personal attributes:

• Expert-level knowledge in data science, emergency response systems, geospatial analysis, fire risk modeling or related technical disciplines.

• Proven experience integrating academic research with applied real-world implementation, particularly in community risk reduction or fire safety.

• Advanced programming and software knowledge for scientific computing and geospatial data analysis.

• Demonstrated excellence in technical communication across written, verbal, and visual formats.

• Strong leadership and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously.

• Ability to foster cross-functional collaboration and build consensus among diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Professional education and experience requirements for the role include:

• Bachelor's degree in fire science, mechanical engineering, fire protection engineering, public health, geographic information systems, data science, economics or related field with 12 or more years of relevant experience, or

• Master's degree with 12 years of relevant experience, or

• Doctoral degree (PhD) with 10 years of relevant experience

About UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement

UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement are nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing safety science research through the discovery and application of scientific knowledge. We conduct rigorous independent research and analyze safety data, convene experts worldwide to address risks, share knowledge through safety education and public outreach initiatives, and develop standards to guide safe commercialization of evolving technologies. We foster communities of safety, from grassroots initiatives for neighborhoods to summits of world leaders. Our organization employs collaborative and scientific approaches with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and progress toward improving safety, security, and sustainability, ultimately enhancing societal well-being.

Our affiliate, UL Solutions, stands alongside us in working for a safer and more sustainable world. UL Solutions conducts testing, verification and certification, and provides training and advisory services, along with data-driven reporting and decision-making tools, for customers around the world.

To learn more, visit our websites UL.org and ULSE.org.

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