The Wildfire Resilience Initiative (WRI) at UCSB is pleased to invite seed grant proposals from UCSB faculty. Proposals should be strategically aligned with initiative goals and objectives to develop and apply the latest technology, resilience research, satellite data, and meteorological information for the understanding, prevention, and mitigation of extreme wildfire events as well as the resulting damage from such events. Details on the WRI may be found at https://wri.ucsb.edu/.

Application materials for proposals include the following:

1. Cover page (1 page maximum)
2. Budget page (1 page maximum)
3. Research proposal (2 page maximum) - consisting of motivation, linkages to WRI goals and objectives, potential to inform local mitigation efforts and external funding prospects
4. Curriculum vitae

WRI seed grants are awarded in part because the research holds promise for informing and transforming local and regional efforts to enhance wildfire resilience efforts as well as potential for evolving into a larger, externally-funded project. WRI investment in research is hoped to build upon university expertise in the area of wildfire resilience, and facilitate collaboration and interaction within WRI faculty, staff and students.

Researchers are encouraged to discuss proposal ideas with WRI principal investigators. WRI anticipates making up to three awards, with funding requests not to exceed $25,000. Permissible budget items include GSR and undergraduate support, partial PI summer month, equipment and survey support. Required application materials should be submitted to Alan Murray (amurray@ucsb.edu) as a single PDF file.

Timeline:

• June 15, 2023 Proposals due
• June 22, 2023 Review of proposals by WRI subcommittee
• July 1, 2023 Grant awards made
• June 30, 2024 Grant funds expended, and final report due

WRI principal investigators include Alan Murray, Leila Carvalho, Charles Jones, Dar Roberts, Stuart Sweeney and Max Moritz. The external advisory team includes Anne-Marie Parkinson (Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council), Nicole Molinari (USDA Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest), Rob Hazard (Division Chief/Fire Marshal, Santa Barbara County Fire Department) and Nic Elmquist (Wildland Fire Specialist, Montecito Fire Department).

• Post-doctoral research position with a primary focus on wildfire fuels, fire behavior and management within the Wildland Urban Interface - link
• Administrative Coordinator - link

Various opportunities exist for undergraduates with appropriate backgrounds to assist with, support and carry out WRI research