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 fulfi