Call for Applications: Graduate Research Assistantships in Fire Protection Engineering

The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) provides support for several Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) every year. The support is provided to outstanding, incoming Master of Science (MS) students, domestic or international, in the UMD FPE Department and is awarded on a competitive basis. The support goes to individuals who have already applied or will be applying to the FPE MS program. Incoming students are defined as students who intend to start their MS program in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026 or Spring 2026.

In 2025, we have the following opportunities:

One John L. Bryan Award: this GRA Award is funded by the John L. Bryan endowment. The John L. Bryan Awardee is expected to complete his/her proposed research project under the supervision of members of the Faculty of the FPE Department. A requirement in the Award is that the Awardee agrees to serve as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for one course during each Fall and Spring term (1/2 TA position). The duration of the Award is up to 16 months.
One or two UL Fellowships: these GRA Fellowships are funded by UL Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI). The UL Fellows are expected to complete their proposed research project under the supervision of FSRI research engineers with advising/support from a member of the Faculty of the FPE Department. The duration of the Fellowship is up to 16 months. The research work is typically performed off-campus, at the FSRI office located in Columbia, MD; some of the work could involve travel (which would be supported by UL).
One FRA Fellowship: this GRA Fellowship is funded by Fire Risk Alliance (FRA). The FRA Fellow is expected to complete his/her proposed research project under the supervision of FRA research engineers with advising/support from a member of the Faculty of the FPE Department. The duration of the Fellowship is up to 16 months. The research work is typically performed off-campus, at the FRA office located in Rockville, MD; some of the work could involve travel (which would be supported by FRA).

Identification of a research project is welcome but is not required during the application process. The research project will be defined by members of the FPE Faculty (John L. Bryan Award), or by engineers from UL FSRI (UL Fellowships) or from FRA (FRA Fellowship) in collaboration with members of the FPE Faculty.

Interested applicants should provide a one-page statement of purpose explaining their interest in the FPE MS degree program in general and in fire research in particular. Applicants should indicate which GRA opportunity they are applying for (i.e., for the John L. Bryan Award and/or a UL Fellowship and/or a FRA Fellowship). Applicants should also provide an updated résumé and (official or unofficial) copies of transcripts. Applications should be submitted via email to Dr. Arnaud Trouvé, Professor and Chair in the FPE Department (atrouve@umd.edu). The deadline for application is Friday February 28, 2025. Decisions on applications will be made by Selection Committees made up of members of the FPE Faculty and engineers from UL FSRI (UL Fellowships) or from FRA (FRA Fellowship). Decision will be made in early March.

Because of a possible delay between the time of the announcement of the Award and Fellowships (March 2025) and the start of the MS program (possibly as late as Spring 2026), changes to the original plan submitted by the GRA recipients may be allowed (e.g., changes in the proposed research area, the start date of the MS program, etc); in that case, changes need to be authorized by the Chair of the FPE Department.

Published January 30, 2025