Call for Applications: Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes Fellowship Program

The Department of Fire Protection Engineering (FPE) is inviting applications to two fire safety fellowships. These fellowships provide support for two Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) with a start in Spring 2026. The fellowships include standard tuition credits (up to 25), health benefits, and a stipend (approximately $42K). The duration of the support is up to 24 months.

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 are applying to the FPE MS program (a complete application to the FPE MS program will be required at the time of evaluationby the Selection Committee, i.e. at the end of September).

The fellowships are funded by the Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI), part of UL Research Institutes. The FSRI 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 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 FSRI).

Identification of a research project is welcome but is not required during the application process. The research project will be defined by engineers from FSRI 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 also provide a résumé and (official or unofficial) copies of transcripts. Applications to the FSRI Fellowships should be submitted via email to Dr. Arnaud Trouvé, Professor and Chair in the FPE Department (atrouve@umd.edu). The deadline for application is Tuesday September 2, 2025. Interested applicants should also submit a separate application to the FPE MS program (see Graduate Admissions). Decisions on applications to the FSRI Fellowships will be made by Selection Committees made up of members of the FPE Faculty and engineers from FSRI. Decisions will be made in late September.

Published July 30, 2025