This position is funded as part of a £1.1million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship project. “Quake4D” is a new and exciting project which aims to develop a new approach to calculating seismic hazard, by integrating geologically-rich datasets with state-of-the-art numerical modelling to simulate earthquakes and fault interaction over many millennia.
You will work as part of a team led by Dr Zoë Mildon in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, a large, interdisciplinary School with an enviable record of success and a strong research profile in the physical processes underlying natural hazards. The School comprises nearly 60 academic staff and enjoys excellent support from well-resourced laboratory facilities (including 16 technicians). As well as depth and breadth in and across our subject areas, we have strong academic links across the institution with for example the University’s Sustainable Earth and Marine Institutes.
In this role you will gather and analyse datasets from a range of sources (including field data and seismic reflection data) to study how faults evolve and interact together. These datasets will be used to simulate synthetic earthquake catalogues to develop novel ways of calculating seismic hazard assessment. As part of this role, fieldwork will be conducted in Italy to gather field data on normal faults. This role will also involve modelling and quantifying seismic hazard and liaising with risk industry professionals.
Training will be provided in seismic reflection processing and seismic hazard assessment, and in fieldwork on active faults, depending on the skill set of the applicant. Alongside your responsibilities to the position, you will be supported to develop your own independent career and research interests.
As a PDR you will work closely with Dr Mildon and another post-doc on the project, along with collaborators Prof Chris Jackson, Prof Gerald Roberts, Dr Joanna Faure Walker and WillisTowersWatson (a global multi-national risk management company).
You must have or be close to completing a relevant PhD in a field such as structural geology, seismic hazard, active tectonics or neotectonics and be numerically literate. You must be able to work collaboratively and inclusively. You should have a demonstrable interest in improving our understanding of earthquakes and associated seismic hazard. Experience of fieldwork and seismic reflection analyses is desirable. Experience of publishing and presenting work to a range of audiences is desirable.
You will benefit from a positive and collegiate working environment that values and promotes excellence in all academic activities.
This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week on a fixed-term basis for 4 years due to the nature of the funding, the anticipated start date is early 2021. Part time and/or flexible working will be considered and should be discussed with Dr Mildon prior to application.
Please demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the knowledge, qualifications, training and experience elements of the job description in your supporting statement.
For an informal discussion to find out more about the role then please contact Dr Zoë Mildon by email zoe.mildon@plymouth.ac.uk
Interviews are likely to take place during the week of 4 January and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted.
Please note, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the University is currently implementing a number of safety measures as per Government advice therefore the successful applicant may be required to work from home in the first instance.
We offer a competitive salary package and a generous pension and holiday scheme. We also offer a range of other benefits, including ongoing development opportunities.
The University of Plymouth is committed to equality of opportunity, promoting a diverse and inclusive culture, demonstrated through our commitment to the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and as a Stonewall diversity champion. All applications will be judged solely on merit, however, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the workforce, for example black and minority ethnic groups.
University of Plymouth holds a TEF (Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework) Silver from the Office for Students.
Job Description