We seek a highly motivated PhD candidate to work within a recently funded project on Seismic hazard assessment in regions of slow deformation. The candidate will be advised by Delphine Fitzenz at the Center of Geophysics of Evora, Evora, Portugal, and co-advised by Celine Beauval, IRG/LGIT, Grenoble, France. The candidate will be based in Evora.

The hazard in the Lower Tagus Valley (LTV) is important to assess because of the closeby capital city of Lisbon, and also because a lot of power plants and factories are located in this area. It is a zone of slow deformation rate, however it has known destructive moderate to large earthquakes in the past. A probabilistic modeling framework will be designed and used to 1) study the correspondence between faults and earthquakes, and 2) to test the pertinence of different ways of characterizing the sources (faults, diffuse zones, etc.) in terms of the robustness of the resulting hazard maps (i.e., maps of expected ground shaking level for given return periods). Forward numerical fault modeling will also be instrumental in 1) studying the geometry of the faults and the tectonic regimes with respect to the boundary conditions on the region (indeed, discrepancies in the numerical models might indicate where probable, yet unknown faults might lie), and 2) propose physics-based renewal models for characteristic strong earthquakes. The project will propose a seismicity model ready for use in a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment for the LVT. It will also identify the inputs the estimation of PSHA in the LTV are most sensitive to so that future research can focus in priority on the determination of these inputs (and the potential reduction of their uncertainties). The research will be useful for any region of the world displaying similar seismic activity, and similar tectonic patterns. 

The candidate is required to have a MS degree in Geophysics (Applied Math or Physics degrees will also be considered if the student shows a great motivation for the subject). He/she should have a strong interest in earthquake mechanics and seismic hazard assessment. Good bases in rock mechanics, C++ programming, and seismology, and good communication skills will be necessary. Indeed, this project will offer the candidate a rare opportunity to work within two, so far very distinct, research communities: the fault modeling community and the seismic hazard community. He/She will also learn to manipulate and integrate earthquake geology data, a source of quantitative information generally overlooked by modelers. This project will therefore prepare the candidate either to continue a carreer in Academics, or to work in the private sector (e.g., in risk analysis and management). The working language is English. A background in probability theory, or in numerical earthquake simulators would be a plus. A self-starter and "outside the box" thinker would be most welcome. The research fellow will play an important role in a starting, exciting project. Training periods at IGEOSS in Montpellier and visits to LGIT, Grenoble, France, to work with Dr Celine Beauval, co-advisor, will be essential. Communications within the international project team, as well as with the members of the other 3 CGE projects focused on the Lower Tagus Valley will be facilitated by the use of the group wiki.

To apply:

To apply, please email the following documents to Delphine Fitzenz (delphine@uevora.pt): 1. a st2. an up-to-date resume, including a list of reports or publications; 3. at least one reference letter. 

The Centre of Geophysics of Évora is hosted by the University of Évora. The research fields developed by the international team of the CGE are Seismology, Applied Geophysics, Geology, Atmospheric Physics and Satellite Remote Sensing, Climate Dynamics, Scenarios and Impacts of Climate Change. More than 20 post-graduate students and postdocs are heavily involved in the research developed by the center.