JOB OFFERS

This page shows some positions open that can be of interest for the Fault2SHA community.

If you have interesting recuitment/ job offers please contact the web administrators.

Become a Fault2SHA member HERE, contact the web administrator HERE. Last update Feb 2023.

2023

Call for application of 11 PhD positions in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network

TREAD: daTa and pRocessess in sEismic hAzarD” project

Deadline for applications: April 15, 2023

We aim to start all PhD positions the latest by October 31, 2023.

The aim of TREAD is to train a new generation of researchers to tackle the challenges of earthquake forecasting in complex tectonic settings using integrated observations and physics.

The TREAD objectives are:

(i) to develop a novel integrative approach to seismic hazard analysis in Europe and the Mediterranean from small-scale laboratory experiments to large-scale observations.
(ii) to establish physics-based earthquake modelling bridging time scales from millions of years to fractions of a second in complex tectonic settings.
(iii) to improve the link between earthquake geology, computational modelling and hazard and risk assessment with a focus on the needs of governments, industry and scientific stakeholders.

The TREAD consortium comprises 14 academic and 8 non-academic institutions, of which 8 private partners, of high scientific level, from 7 European countries, covering cutting-edge knowledge and expertise in the fields of observational, experimental and modelling:

– Università degli Studi di Chieti-Pescara (Ud’A), Italy
– Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France
– Universiteit Utrecht (UU), Netherlands
– Fondazione GEM (GEM), Italy
– Université Grenoble-Alpes (UGA), France
– Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany
– Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Spain
– Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD), Italy
– Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland
– Institut de Sureté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (IRSN), France
– Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS), Italy
– Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Italy
– Ruhr University Bochum (RUB), Germany
– Institut de Physique du Globe (IPGP), France
– Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HZDR), Germany
– Willis Tower Watson (Willis), United Kingdom
– IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), France
– Eléctricité de France (EDF), France
– Università degli studi di Milano Bicocca (UNIMIB), Italy
– Munich RE (MUNCHRE), Germany
– Dutch Geological Survey (TNO), Netherlands
– TRE-Altamira (TRE), Italy
– Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), France

The following 11 PhD projects are available:

Project #1
Earthquake timing in complex fault zones: new approaches in paleoseismology.
Main Supervisor: Maria Ortuno (UB) 
Co-Supervisor: Lucilla Benedetti (CNRS-CEREGE)
Location: Universitat de Barcelona (Spain) – www.ub.edu – (duration of the PhD: 3 years)
Contacts: maria.ortuno@ub.edubenedetti@cerege.fr

Project #2
Combining InSAR and seismo-thermo-mechanical models to understand earthquake sequences in complex fault system: application to Central Apennines (Italy).
Main Supervisor: Erwan Pathier(UGA) 
Co-Supervisor: Ylona Van Dinther (UU), Anne Socquet (UGA)
Location: Université Grenoble-Alpes (France) – www.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr – (duration of the PhD: 3years)
Contacts: erwan.pathier@univ-grenoble-alpes.fry.vandinther@uu.nlanne.socquet@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Project #3
The seismic signatures of aseismic processes with deep learning powered monitoring
Main Supervisor: Men-Andrin Meier(ETH Zurich); 
Co-Supervisor: David Marsan (UGA)
Location: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Switzerland) – ethz.ch – (duration of the PhD: 3 years)
Contacts:menandrin.meier@erdw.ethz.chdavid.marsan@univ-smb.fr

Project #4
Linking fault damage zone mechanical and geometrical characteristics with fault seismic history
Main Supervisor: Lucilla Benedetti(CNRS-CEREGE)
Co-Supervisor: Giulio Di Toro (UNIPD)
Location: CEREGE-CNRS- Aix Marseille Université (France) – www.cerege.fr – (duration of the PhD:3 years)
Contacts: benedetti@cerege.frgiulio.ditoro@unipd.it

Project #5
Flow to friction transition and back in carbonate rocks.
Main Supervisors: André Niemeijer(UU), Giulio Di Toro (UNIPD) 
Co-Supervisors: Hans de Bresser(UU), Telemaco Tesei (UNIPD)
Location: Universiteit Utrecht (Netherlands) – www.uu.nl – (duration of the PhD: 4 years)
Contacts: A.R.Niemeijer@uu.nlgiulio.ditoro@unipd.it

Project #6
Formation of fault damage zones in carbonates and their role in the seismic cycle
Main Supervisors: Giulio Di Toro(UNIPD), Alice Gabriel (LMU) 
Co-Supervisors: Manuele Faccenda(UNIPD) 
Location: Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy) – www.unipd.it – (duration of the PhD: 3 years)
Contacts: giulio.ditoro@unipd.itgabriel@geophysik.uni-muenchen.de

Project #7
How tectonics affects seismic hazard parameters in complex continental settings
Main Supervisor: Ylona van Dinther (UU)
Co-Supervisor: Taras Gerya (ETH),Alice Gabriel (LMU)
Location: Universiteit Utrecht (Netherlands) – www.uu.nl – (duration of the PhD: 4 years)
Contacts: y.vandinther@uu.nlgabriel@geophysik.uni-muenchen.de

Project #8
Integrating physics-based earthquake rupture models in seismic hazard assessments
Main Supervisor: Alice-Agnes Gabriel (LMU)
Co-Supervisors: Sebastien Hokand, Oona Scotti (IRSN),Yann Klinger (IPGP)
Location: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany) – www.lmu.de – (duration of the PhD:3 years)
Contacts: gabriel@geophysik.uni-muenchen.desebastien.hok@irsn.froona.scotti@irsn.fr,klinger@ipgp.fr

Project #9
Modelling synthetic catalogues of earthquake ruptures in complex interacting fault systems
Main Supervisor: Bruno Pace (Ud’A)
Co-Supervisors: Alessandro Verdecchia (RUB), Laura Peruzza(OGS), Francesco Visini (INGV)
Location: Università degli Studi di Chieti-Pescara (Italy) – www.unich.it – (duration of the PhD: 3years)
Contacts: bruno.pace@unich.italessandro.verdecchia@rub.delperuzza@inogs.it,francesco.visini@ingv.it

Project #10
Modelling distributed seismicity using innovative approaches
Main Supervisor: Marco Pagani (GEM)
Co-Supervisors: C. Beauval, A. Soquet, D. Marsan (UGA), F.Agliardi (UNIMIB)
Location: Fondazione GEM (Italy) www.globalquakemodel.org– (duration of the PhD: 3 years)
Contacts: marco.pagani@globalquakemodel.orgceline.beauval@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Project #11
Assessment of the impact of advanced seismic hazard modelling approaches inearthquake risk
Main Supervisor: Vitor Silva (GEM)
Co-Supervisor: Bruno Pace (Ud’A)
Location: Fondazione GEM (Italy) www.globalquakemodel.org– (duration of the PhD: 3 years)
Contacts: vitor.silva@globalquakemodel.orgbruno.pace@unich.it

Additional Information

Benefits
TREAD fellows will be employed according to the rules for doctoral candidates in MSCA-DNs and the general regulations of each host institution.
The financial package will include the monthly researcher allowances subdivided into 1) a living allowance of €3,400 (country correction coefficient applies), 2) a mobility allowance of €600 and, 3) a family allowance (€660), if applicable. Employer costs and other deductions depend on recruiting host.
Doctoral candidate will be given an employment contract for 36 months by their host institution and will be entitled to full employee benefits and inclusion in social security schemes of the host country.

Eligibility criteria
Supported researchers: applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e., not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (e.g., work, studies) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
Other eligibility criteria may apply depending on the recruiting beneficiary.

Selection process
TREAD will select 11 doctoral candidates through a 4-step recruitment process. The selection procedure will be open, transparent, and merit-based, fully aligned with the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Although the selection will be based on the quality of applications, gender balance will be also considered.

For details:

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/59623 
Further info will be soon available on the website www.tread-horizon.eu

The closing date for applications is 15/04/2023.

PhD calls – OGS Trieste – Chieti-Pescara University

In the frame of the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPRR/PNRR), the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS (https://www.ogs.it/) sponsors 1 extraordinary PhD scholarships in Engineering Science in cooperation with the University “G. D’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara (https://www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/bandi/ulteriori-borse-di-studio-bando-di-concorso-lammissione-al-dottorato-di-ricerca-xxxviii-ciclo) on the topic:

=> “Seismic potential of active and capable faults nearby energy-industry infrastructures in Northern Italy: collection, analysis and representation tools of multidisciplinary datasets” (ref. PNRR/GEOSCIENCES IR coordinated by ISPRA): Tutors: Laura Peruzza (lperuzza@ogs.it), Bruno Pace (bruno.pace@unich.it).

The PhD fellow will be based mainly in the headquarters of OGS, located in Sgonico (Trieste), with short stays at the University Chieti-Pescara, and abroad.

For applying follow the indications reported at website of each PhD course of the Universitá degli Studi “G. D’Annunzio” Chieti-Pescara , or contact the reference tutors.

CLOSING DATE for applications: 11 January -13.00.00 (Italian time)

Selection interview: January 17, 2023

Start of the Doctorate: February 2023

2022

Post-Doctoral position in seismic hazard at Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (IT)

INGV has an opening for a post-doctoral position in seismic hazard, in the framework of the project PEACE (stime di PEricolosità sismica complementari al catalogo dei terremoti in Appennino CEntrale, Seismic Hazard Assessment in Central Apennines of Italy based on scenario, faults and geodetic data), under the scientific responsibility of Francesco Visini.

Activities:

  • scenario-based seismic hazard assessments;
  • Probabilistic evaluation of fault-based seismic hazard for simple and complex models of coseismic ruptures;
  • Probabilistic evaluation of the seismic hazard based on geodetic data.

Duration:

This Post-Doctoral position is proposed for a duration of 24 months, starting on the 1st of February 2023.

Application and details:

  • Deadline for application is 18th December 2022.
  • The interview will be online (Google MEET digital platform) on 09/01/2023 at 11:00 am (CET).
  • To apply, please download documents (in Italian) at the following link:

https://amministrazione-trasparente.ingv.it/web/trasparenza/papca-p/-/papca/display/2136964?p_auth=Qo0REcTm&p_p_state=pop_up

Contact for information: francesco.visini@ingv.it

Professionalizing fellowship at OGS-CRS, Trieste (IT)

In the frame of the PRIN 2020 Project “Fault segmentation and seismotectonics of active thrust systems: the Northern Apennines and Southern Alps laboratories for new Seismic Hazard Assessments in northern Italy (NASA4SHA)” a 12 months (renewable) grant is open at the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS. PhD is not required.

Info about activities, tutor, salary at https://www.ogs.it/it/concorsi/ Selection n. 32/2022.

CLOSING DATE for applications: 24 December 2022 -23:59 CET

PhD calls – Trieste (IT)

In the frame of the Italian Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPRR/PNRR), the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics – OGS (https://www.ogs.it/en) sponsors 7 PhD scholarships at the University of Trieste (https://www.units.it/en) on different topics of Earth Sciences:

PhD in EARTH SCIENCE, FLUID-DYNAMICS AND MATHEMATICS. INTERACTIONS AND METHODS (https://www2.units.it/dottorati/files/PhD09Concorso38PNRR.pdf)

=> “Numerical modelling of the propagation of anthropogenic underwater noise in the northern Adriatic Sea” (ref. PNRR/5), for info: Peter Klin (pklin@ogs.it), Stefano Parolai (sparolai@inogs.it)

=> “Integration of geophysical and geological data and hydrogeological modelling for geothermal resource characterisation in the Friuli Plain” (ref. PNRR/6), for info: Michela Giustiniani (mgiustiniani@ogs.it)

=> “High-resolution hydrodynamic and biogeochemical modelling in coastal and open seas” (ref. PNRR/7), for info: Donata Canu (dcanu@ogs.it), Stefano Salon (ssalon@ogs.it)

=> “Numerical simulation of sediment transport by thermohaline bottom currents” (ref. PNRR/8), for info: Michele Rebesco (mrebesco@ogs.it), Federico Roman (FEDERICO.ROMAN@dia.units.it)

PhD in APPLIED DATA SCIENCE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (https://www2.units.it/dottorati/files/PhD14Concorso38PNRR.pdf)

=> “Digital twin of Northern Adriatic Sea: Data model integration for monitoring and prediction” (ref. PNRR/14), for info: Cosimo Solidoro (csolidoro@ogs.it), Luca Bortolussi (lbortolussi@units.it)

=> “Marine ecosystem modelling and data analysis in an Earth System perspective” (ref. PNRR/15), for info: Gianpiero Cossarini (gcossarini@ogs.it), Luca Manzoni (lmanzoni@units.it)

PhD in ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SCIENCES (https://www2.units.it/dottorati/files/PhD01Concorso38PNRR.pdf)

=> “Modelling invasiveness and exploitation of marine non-indigenous species” (ref. PNRR/3), for info: Simone Libralato (slibralato@ogs.it)

For applying follow the indications reported at website of each PhD course of the Universitá degli Studi di Trieste (https://www2.units.it/dottorati/en/?file=DottBandi.inc&cod=2021).

CLOSING DATE for applications: 12 September 2022 -13.00.00 (Italian time)

PhD call on FAULT DISPLACEMENT HAZARD ANALYSIS, 2022-2025, Italy – France collaboration

Starting date: November 2022

Fault displacement hazard (FDH) is a localized hazard due to rupture of the ground surface from slip along an earthquake fault. This can be a significant source of danger for infrastructure, industrial facilities, or even housing. There is a growing interest from the scientific community, the geoscience practitioners’ world and from stakeholders for methods aimed at quantifying FDH. This is required also by the need of updating the current methodologies of FDH Analysis with approaches in step with the most modern engineering mitigation solutions developed in the past decades. Probabilistic fault displacement hazard analysis (PFDHA) is one methodology, though with limitations that need to be overcome.The PhD project is aimed at developing the methodology of PFDHA. It will be in continuity with promising results obtained in the past few years. The project will be developed within an international collaboration between Italy (University of Chieti – UdA and INGV) and France (IRSN, IsTERRE).

PhD title: Fault Displacement Hazard on Principal Fault rupture: probability of occurrence, slip distribution and role of surface geology

Supervising team: Paolo Boncio (UdA), Francesco Visini (INGV), Stéphane Baize (IRSN)

Collaboration team: Céline Beauval (IsTERRE), Oona Scotti (IRSN), Bruno Pace (UdA)

UdA: University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara (Italy); INGV: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (Italy); IRSN: Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (Fontenay-aux-Roses, France); IsTERRE:Institut des Sciences de la Terre (Grenoble, France)

Expected results: probabilistic models to forecast the distribution of slip along capable faults; specific relationships depending on surface geology conditions to be used with the aim of providing a complete model (principal + distributed faulting) for PFDHA.

Methods: analysis of geological data from historical earthquake surface ruptures occurred globally; statistical analysis; coding by Python and/or Matlab; application of models to real cases.

Who: we encourage the application of students who love combining knowledge in geosciences with numerical quantification methods (statistical analyses, Python and/or Matlab coding).

Where:The student will be based in the University of Chieti (UdA, Italy), with tight cooperation with INGV team. Long duration stays in France (ideally 2 of 3 months each) in Paris (IRSN) and Grenoble (IsTERRE) are planned. 

How to apply (deadline for application: August 3rd 2022):The student will be recruited following the UdA procedure at (look for Call for PhD positions Doctoral Programme 38thcycle (BANDI DI CONCORSO in Italian), PhD program in GEOSCIENCES):

https://en.unich.it/teaching/postgraduate-courses/scuola-superiore-g-dannunzio-school-advanced-studies

If you need help with the procedure, please ask: paolo.boncio@unich.it.

Ask for info, or send your CV @

Paolo Boncio, paolo.boncio@unich.it

Stéphane Baize, stephane.baize@irsn.fr

Permanent positions open at the Seismological Research Centre, OGS, Italy

Expiring date: March 20, 2022

Info: Researchers opportunities

2021

INTEGRATION OF GEODETIC STRAIN RATES FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF SEISMOGENIC SOURCES: APPLICATION TO FAULT NETWORKS IN THE CENTRAL APENNINES, ITALY

Starting date: November 2021 

Contact: Bruno Pace (bruno.pace@unich.it), Oona Scotti (oona.scotti@irsn.fr) – Stephane Mazzotti (stephane.mazzotti@umontpellier.fr), Francesco Visini (francesco.visini@ingv.it)

Location: Italy/France

  • Università Chieti-Pescara, Italy
  • Bureau d’évaluation des risques sismiques pour la sûreté des installations (BERSSIN) – Fontenay-aux-Roses 
  • Géosciences Montpellier, Université de Montpellier – Montpellier 

Pre-requisites

  • Master in Earth Sciences or equivalent
  • Basic skills and strong interest in quantitative methods applied to geology, geodesy, geophysics, seismology, computer programming.

Thesis subject 

The objective of this thesis is to develop new methods for the integration of geodetic strain velocity data into the characterization of seismogenic sources. Geodetic data (GPS measurements) have been used for about two decades in comparison with the slip rates of faults and with seismicity. In tectonically “simple” regions with high seismic activity (eg, San Andreas fault), we observe a first order agreement between the geodetic strain rates, the fault rates measured by geological methods, and the rate of strong earthquakes known from catalogs. In recent years, developments in methods for analyzing geodetic data and the sharp increase in the density of GPS networks have made it possible to significantly improve the resolution of deformation rates. These developments thus make it possible to use this new data to test their role in the characterization of the seismogenic sources used in the probabilistic calculation of seismic hazard.

In order to address these questions, this thesis project will aim to integrate geodetic deformation data and those from geology into fault system models allowing the generation of synthetic seismicity catalogs, which will be tested against instrumental, historical and paleoseismological seismicity catalogs. These studies will be based on the most recent methodological developments. The target site for this thesis is the Central Apennines region in Italy, focus (see references) of an ongoing international effort of the FAULT2SHA ESC WG.

In particular, two major points will be tested: (1) What is the part of seismic and aseismic deformation (eg, post-seismic creep) in the estimates of deformation rates at the scale of a fault up to the regional scale? (2) Can we constrain and characterize seismic super-cycles (periods of intense activity on fault systems followed by periods of quiescence) as suggested by several researchers recently?

The first challenge of the thesis will consist in developing a set of methodologies to extract differential velocities useful for the parameterization of seismogenic sources. This work will be based on recent doctoral and master’s work in host laboratories, in particular in order to estimate fault rates with uncertainties (probability distribution) as precise as possible.

The second challenge of the thesis will be to configure a model of seismogenic sources integrating both geological and geodetic data. The major questions addressed in this work will relate to the attribution of seismic and aseismic deformation at both the scale of the fault systems and at the scale of individual faults, the confrontation between the parameterization of models with geological data of long-term deformation (Quaternary), and more generally the characterization of possible seismic scenarios.

References

Masson, C., Mazzotti, S., and Vernant, P.: Precision of continuous GPS velocities from statistical analysis of synthetic time series, Solid Earth, 10, 329–342, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-329-2019, 2019.

Chartier, T., Scotti, O., and Lyon‐Caen, H.: SHERIFS: Open‐Source Code for Computing Earthquake Rates in Fault Systems and Constructing Hazard Models, Seismological Research Letters, 90-4, 1678-1688.

Faure-Walker, J., Boncio, P., Pace, B., Roberts, G., Benedetti, L., Scotti, O., Visini, F., Peruzza, L.: Fault2SHA Central Apennines database and structuring active fault data for seismic hazard assessment. Nature Scientific Data 8, 87.

Scotti, O., Visini, F., Faure-Walker, J., Peruzza, L., Pace, B., Benedetti, L., Boncio, P., Roberts, G.: Which Fault Threatens Me Most? Bridging the Gap Between Geologic Data-Providers and Seismic Risk Practitioners. Frontiers in Earth Science 8, 626401.

Call : www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/sites/sc03/files/bando_inglese_xxxvii.pdf

Details : www.scuolasuperiore.unich.it/sites/sc03/files/attachement_1_schede_xxxvii_eng.pdf

2020

POST-DOCTORAL POSITION IN MORPHOTECTONICS / STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY AT CEREGE (AIX EN PROVENCE, FRANCE)

CEREGE has an opening for a post-doctoral position in morphotectonics and structural geology. The project (EQ-TIME PI: Lucilla Benedetti) is funded by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) to constrain how successive earthquakes accrue on individual faults to produce kilometer- scale displacements and tectonic landforms. For that purpose, we propose to constrain and compare datasets on specific fault systems of the various stage of a fault escarpment build-up from timescales ranging from 10 to 106 a and to identify from those comparisons key information linking long-term morphology and seismic rupturing pattern. Constraining the fault slip over the 100 – 106 time window and encompassing spatial scales from 102 to 105 meters has been rarely achieved. To fulfil this challenge we focus on the Apennines range in Italy (host of the 2016 seismic sequence, 5 shocks Mw5 to 6.5 over 9 months) as it provides one of the most appropriate places worldwide to study long-term morphological build-up from the addition of individual earthquakes.

In this framework, the post-doctoral fellow will have an active role in the quantification of deformation across the Apennines over the long-term (100 ka to 2 Ma). The objective will be to assess how active structures accomodate the extension, their finite displacement, their extension- rate and how those parameters have evolved through time and space. The study will start by a compilation of the published datasets (geological maps, seismic reflection profiles, tomographic data, geophysical data) on three targeted areas along the Apennines. The post-doctoral researcher will complement those observations by field data acquisition and additional shallow geophysical surveys on specific fault systems. Those data will be analyzed and inverted to accurately characterize the shallow structures. These constraints will be combined with long-wavelength structural geology data and will contribute to restore well-constrained serial balanced cross sections at regional scale. This comprehensive dataset will allow estimating rates of deformation and finite amounts of extension accommodated over the last 1 Ma by each target fault system.

From an analysis of the topography and morphology using satellite images and DEMs (high- resolution DEMs produced from satellite- (Pleiades), aerial- and UAV-derived photogrammetry), and field observations, the post-doctorate fellow will identify Quaternary passive markers of the deformation to quantify the displacement over shorter time scales (10-100 kyr). Those markers will be dated using 36Cl cosmogenic nuclide or others Quaternary chronological dating techniques to derive rates of deformation over this time-scale.

The position will be based at CEREGE (Aix-en-Provence, France) and the candidate will benefit from various interactions and collaborations with members of the Earth and Planetary group of CEREGE. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with research groups in France at Geosciences Montpellier, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris and EOST Strasbourg and, in Italy, at INGV, Universita di Chieti and OGS.

The postdoc is expected to provide regular progress updates and manage communication amongst the different groups. The post-doctoral fellow will present his/her scientific results in international meetings, and write scientific papers to be published in peer-reviewed international journals.

Duration / Salary

This Post-Doctoral position is proposed for a duration of 24 months, to be started as early as September 2020 and at latest by January 2021. Net salary will depend on previous experience , and will average ~40 k€/year.

Qualifications and Application procedure

The candidates should have completed a PhD degree in tectonics or structural geology, with experience in building and restoring geological cross-sections and/or active tectonics. The applicants are expected to send their curriculum and a brief summary of their past research experience and scientific results to Lucilla Benedetti benedetti@cerege.fr and Vincent Godard godard@cerege.fr

The names and contact information of two (or more) referees will also be provided. Applications are open and will be considered upon reception as long as the position is vacant.

EXPLORING PHYSICS-BASED EARTHQUAKE RUPTURE APPROACHES IN FAULT NETWORKS FOR SEISMIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT (FRENCH ANR PROJECT EQTIME)

Supervisors: A.-A. Gabriel (LMU Munich), S. Hok and O. Scotti (IRSN)

Contact: oona.scotti@irsn.fr

Duration: 2 years

Starting date: Flexible, between Sept 2020 and Sept 2021

Location: Paris, France and Munich, Germany

Pre-requisites: PhD; experience in dynamic earthquake rupture (laboratory or numerical)

Our offer: Opportunity to develop a new approach in seismic hazard modeling; collaborate with a well-established European network of fault modelers internationally renowned and top-level scientists in a multidisciplinary team (geologists, seismologists, geodesists and hazard modelers); learn to solve complex problems using high performance computing facilities.

Objectives:Probabilistic Seismic hazard modeling aims to forecast earthquake occurrence and its resultant ground shaking. One of the main challenges relies in an adequate quantification of uncertainty involved in seismic-source and ground-motion models. Seismic source models are today evolving towards considering multi-segment ruptures in complex fault systems as observed in recent events (i.e. the 2016 Mw7.8 Kaikoura, New Zealand earthquake with more than 20 individual faults involved). However, evaluating the possibility of future complex earthquake ruptures in any given fault system remains a major challenge. Physics-based computer models allow to simulate how fault interact with each other during their rupture and cause shaking at the surface of the earth. As such they provide a framework for the exploration of the space of viable rupture scenarios.  

The candidate PostDoc will develop 3D dynamic earthquake rupture scenarios across complex fault systems combining nonlinear frictional failure and seismic wave propagation by exploring a range of viable physical parameters. Empowered by supercomputing, such models will produce physics-based forecasts of ground motions and fault interaction as well as providing insight into fundamental processes of earthquake physics.

Challenge

The main challenge and task of the candidate PostDoc will be to first construct the fault model(s) based on the integration of the rich amount of data available in the Central Appenines, Italy. For this part, the PostDoc will interact with the ANR-EQTIME partners. In a second phase, the candidate will focus on the exploration of the physical parameters of the fault model (3D fault geometry, regional stress orientation and amplitude, fluid pore pressure, anelastic behavior parameters, faults’ frictional parameters). For setting these parameters and their variability in such a blind prediction exercise, a puzzling challenge consists in bridging the apparent gaps between the large range of variations implied by Bayesian inversions on simple faults (e.g. Gallovic et al. 2019) and the tighter variability allowed for the reproduction of multi-fault rupture scenarios of past earthquakes (e.g. Wollherr et al., 2019, Ulrich et al., 2019).

Expected Results:

The final purpose of the PostDoc is to devise an efficient strategy to compute viable rupture scenarios in a probabilistic framework. The physically viable earthquake rupture scenarios and their associated probabilities will be used to compute fault-based seismic hazard in the region.

Depending on progress the candidate PostDoc may also tackle the delicate issue of computing physics-based GMPE’s accounting for source/site and path effects, as a first step towards a comprehensive physics-based approach for seismic hazard estimates.        

Tools: The candidate will use mainly three open-source, user-friendly codes: SeisSol, a code used to study complex earthquakes such as Landers or Kaikoura to model multi-fault rupture propagation;  SHERIFS to explore epistemic uncertainties in multi-rupture scenarios and OPENQUAKE  to compute seismic hazard at selected sites.

References:

Wollherr, Stephanie, Alice-Agnes Gabriel, and Paul Martin Mai (2019), Landers 1992 ”reloaded”: an integrative dynamic earthquake rupture modelJournal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth124, doi:10.1029/2018JB016355, open-access available at https://eartharxiv.org/kh6j9/

Ulrich, Thomas, Alice-Agnes Gabriel, Jean-Paul Ampuero, and Wenbin Xu (2019), Dynamic viability of the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake cascade on weak crustal faultsNature Communications10(1213), doi:10.1038/s41467-019-09125-w

ADVANCED MASTERS IN STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF MONUMENTS AND HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTIONS

Course coordinator: Paulo B. Lourenco (University of Minho)

After 10 years of European funding, 400 students and 65 countries, applications for the Advanced Masters in Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions are opened up to May 20, 2020. This is the leading international course on conservation of heritage structures, winner of the 2017 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage “Europa Nostra”, and a unique opportunity to meet people from all over the world. 

This Master Course, which is running its 13th Edition, is organized by a Consortium of leading European Universities/Research Institutions in the field, composed by University of Minho (coordinating institution, Portugal), the Technical University of Catalonia (Spain), the Czech Technical University in Prague (Czech Republic), the University of Padua (Italy) and the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Czech Republic). 

The course combines the most recent advances in research and development with practical applications.

A significant number of scholarships, ranging from 4,000 to 13,000 Euro, are available to students of any nationality.

Please find full details on the MSc programme, as well as electronic application procedure, on the website www.msc-sahc.org

Visit also the SAHC blog http://blog.msc-sahc.org and www.linkedin.com/school/sahcmasterscourse/