James Urban

James Urban is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley (2017), an MS from the same institution (2014), and a BS in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Case Western Reserve University (2012). His research focuses on combustion processes, firebrand ignition dynamics, and wildfire mitigation strategies, with a particular emphasis on the physical mechanisms governing fuel ignition and flame spread.

Research Interests: Combustion, Wildland Fire Dynamics, Firebrand Behavior, Thermal Interaction in Fuels, and Flame Spread Mechanisms. His work includes analyzing firebrand accumulations, non-steady airflow effects on flame spread, and microgravity flame behavior aboard the International Space Station.

Funding & Grants: Principal Investigator on NSF grants (2021–2024) and Factory Mutual Global (2024). Collaborations include CAL FIRE, FEMA, and the U.S. Forest Service. His lab explores wildfire exposure risks to solar farms and WUI infrastructure.

Students & Team: Supervises PhD candidates Luqing Zhu (firebrand imaging), Jorge Valdivia (WUI fuel flammability), and Pablo Pinto (ISS flame spread). Undergraduate researchers include Joshua Klee (wind tunnel design) and Olivia Hollenbeck (burning tree simulators).

Labs & Facilities: Conducts experiments in WPI’s fire protection labs, using advanced techniques like Schlieren imaging and lightboard setups for remote teaching.