We study combustion and fire phenomena using experimental and analytical techniques. A strong background in heat transfer, combustion, fluid mechanics and related fields is desired, although strong skills in one particular area has often been complementary in our lab. Most of the experiments in our laboratory are smaller scale, however we collaborate with the US Forest Service and others to perform larger-scale experiments. Some projects now heavily emphasize numerical simulation, too. The goal of our work is to understand the underlying physical phenomena and then to apply that knowledge to practical problems.

Berkeley Undergraduates

We look for interested undergraduate students to perform research at the start of each semester and in March-April for summer research. During the semester we ask for a 10+ hour commitment per week your first semester or 30+ hours in the summer. Research is often on a volunteer basis or for credit. Students who have previously worked in the lab during the semester may sometimes be able to find limited paid summer research opportunities. If interested please email Prof. Gollner with your name, year, CV and interests.

• Update Fall 2022: Currently recruiting 2-4 undergraduates for the Fall 2022 semester interested in experimental fire research

The goal of undergraduate research is to expose students to the research experience and provide training. In return you often assist graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with their experiments. After a semester there are opportunities to change projects and gain more scientific independence. We have had many students contribute to research eventually becoming co-authors on published articles after a summer and semester of research. Note a time commitment is necessary to make this work and coursework and your health must still come first!

Postdoctoral Scholars

Two postdoctoral positions are available at this time. You are also encouraged to express interest to Prof. Gollner if you work in a similar research area and may be graduating within the next year, so that you may be notified of upcoming positions if new grants are awarded.

1. We are looking for candidates with experience running and developing simulations. The work will be focused on the development of risk-based mitigation tools for the wildland-urban interface by improving current methods for ember transport, coupling wildland models with WUI fire spread, and assessing the sensitivity of current models to input parameters. Strong computational skills are required, while experience in wildland, WUI, CFD, or other fire modeling applications is encouraged, but not required. Strong preference for US-based candidates but well-qualified international candidates will also be considered.
2. We are looking for candidates with experience experimentally studying flame spread at low pressures and in microgravity. Previous experience performing flame spread or fire dynamics experiments is required. Due to NASA funding and upcoming International Space Station experiments we are looking for a US-based candidate.

Fellowship recipients are often welcome with their own funding sources so long as research interests align. The UC Presidents Postdoctoral Program is one opportunity. The current program offers postdoctoral research fellowships, professional development and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to diversity and equal opportunity at UC.

PhD Students

Prof. Gollner takes students through the Mechanical Engineering department. Positions are highly competitive and applications for Fall admission are due late December every year. Read about the admissions process here.

• Fall 2023 Update: We will be recruiting 1-3 new PhD candidates in Fall 2023. Positions are available on numerical simulations and experimental research. US-based candidates eligible for fellowships are much more likely to gain funding and admission.

If you are interested in our research and applying to the PhD program please alert Prof. Gollner with your name, CV, and most of all why you are interested by the application deadline. This will help him pull your file during the admissions process! Many fellowships are available to strong incoming candidates and research support is almost always guaranteed by Prof Gollner before admission.

Note it is very difficult to support international candidates due to additional tuition and fees.

Candidates should already have a B.S. or M.S. degree in Mechanical, Fire, Chemical or Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.

MS Students

The Department of Mechanical Engineering will not offer a standard Master of Science terminal degree option for the Fall 2019 application cycle. Students who are interested in a terminal master’s program may wish to consider our Master of Engineering Program.

Visitors

We often have several international visitors in the lab. Typically PhD students and faculty. We welcome funded visitors who have a strong technical background, closely aligned research interests, and an acceptable level of communication in English. There are NO funded visitor positions. Visits should be for at least 6 months, preferably 1 year so that there is adequate time to train and contribute to a research project.

With visa requirements initial interest must be expressed at least 6 months in advance and a formal application to the university 4 months in advance. To start send Prof. Gollner an email with your CV, research interests, desire to visit, and planned funding source. Note all visitors are required to pay a non-negotiable $2500 university fee