Thread: PhD position in seismology at University of Strasbourg

Started: 2020-05-12 11:05:46
Last activity: 2020-05-12 11:05:46
Zacharie Duputel
2020-05-12 11:05:46
Institution: EOST (Strasbourg)
Open until: 1 June 2020.

The seismology team at University of Strasbourg (France) invites application for a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate the initiation of large earthquakes using near-fault observations. Although it is well established that some events are preceded by foreshocks, it is still unclear whether these foreshocks belong to a cascade of triggering leading to the mainshock or if they are markers of a large scale aseismic slip during the nucleation process. Implications are of uttermost importance in terms of seismic hazard assessment: In the cascading model, foreshocks randomly trigger each other and therefore the occurrence of the mainshock is just the outcome of a statistical process, hence foreshocks cannot be used to predict earthquakes. On the contrary, the presence of a mixture of seismic and aseismic slip during nucleation suggests a causal relationship in which aseismic slip drives foreshocks, hence the potential to forecast large earthquakes. The successful candidate will investigate foreshock sequences using local and regional seismological observations. In particular, the work will be conducted using template-matching and relocation techniques to study in details the initiation mechanisms of large earthquakes. These methods will be completed with the implementation of ETAS models to test the statistical relevance of the observed foreshock sequences.

A MSc (or equivalent) in Geoscience, Physics or Engineering are required. Some programing skills in languages such as python, fortran and C are also desired.

The University of Strasbourg Earth's Science department (EOST) covers a large domain of Earth Sciences and offers excellent research conditions. With its large proportion of international students and strong cultural diversity, Strasbourg is one of the top French cities for international students (http://www.en.unistra.fr).

Application documents: please send a cover letter explaining your motivation for the position, a CV and the name of at least one reference. Applications should be sent through the website: https://bit.ly/2YQJj07
Review of materials will begin immediately.

Start date of the thesis: September 2020
Duration: 36 months
Salary: 2 135 € gross monthly

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