Remote | Seismology & Computational Geophysics Specialist

Specialised Part-Time Consulting Opportunity for Seismologists and Computational Geophysicists

We are sharing a specialised part-time consulting opportunity for seismologists and computational geophysicists with graduate-level expertise in seismic modelling, inversion, imaging, scientific programming, and research-grade geophysical software.

This role supports advanced computational research based on real seismology and geophysics workflows. Selected experts will design original graduate-level problems requiring scientific software, numerical simulation, data interpretation, experimental planning, and rigorous quantitative reasoning, then develop reference solutions and refine tasks through iterative testing.

• Create original graduate-level computational problems in seismology and geophysics
• Develop tasks based on realistic scientific and research workflows
• Design multi-step problems requiring numerical reasoning rather than straightforward calculation
• Create reproducible tasks with clearly defined inputs, outputs, and validation criteria
• Refine problem difficulty based on testing and technical feedback

• Develop problems involving seismic wave propagation and numerical simulation
• Create workflows for synthetic seismogram generation and interpretation
• Evaluate modelling assumptions, boundary conditions, source parameters, and numerical behaviour
• Design tasks requiring analysis of waveforms and propagation effects
• Apply practical knowledge of computational seismology to realistic research scenarios

• Create problems involving full-waveform inversion (FWI), travel-time tomography, and seismic imaging
• Develop tasks requiring inference of subsurface properties from partial or simulated observations
• Evaluate inversion strategies, model assumptions, convergence, and solution quality
• Design workflows involving parameter estimation and uncertainty
• Identify numerical or physical limitations that affect interpretation

• Develop computational tasks involving earthquake or seismic-event detection and location
• Work with moment tensor inversion and source-characterisation workflows where relevant
• Design problems requiring interpretation of seismic arrivals, waveforms, and event parameters
• Evaluate detection and location uncertainty
• Create scenarios where multiple plausible interpretations must be distinguished through careful analysis

• Apply hands-on expertise with tools such as SPECFEM, Obs Py, Pyrocko, SimPEG, pyGIMLi, Seis Bench, EQcorrscan, or Fatiando a Terra
• Develop reference workflows using specialised open-source geophysical software
• Work with other scientific codes built in Python, C, C++, or Fortran where appropriate
• Diagnose solver limitations, numerical edge cases, and implementation failures
• Apply appropriate computational methods to real geophysical problems

• Write problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators
• Use Python to create reproducible computational workflows
• Verify numerical and scientific correctness of expected outputs
• Document assumptions, parameters, dependencies, and validation logic clearly
• Work comfortably within Linux and remote computational environments

• Test computational tasks against advanced systems
• Determine whether problems require genuine scientific reasoning rather than surface-level pattern matching
• Identify tasks that are too easy, ambiguous, or computationally impractical
• Refine prompts, datasets, constraints, and expected outputs until the intended difficulty is achieved
• Maintain strong standards of scientific accuracy and reproducibility

• Master's degree, PhD, or equivalent research experience in Seismology, Geophysics, Computational Geophysics, Earth Sciences, or a closely related STEM discipline
• Strong hands-on experience with computational seismology or geophysical modelling
• Proven proficiency with at least one specialised tool such as SPECFEM, Obs Py, Pyrocko, SimPEG, pyGIMLi, Seis Bench, EQcorrscan, or comparable software
• Experience applying computational methods to real research or professional geophysics problems
• Strong understanding of seismic wave propagation, inversion, imaging, tomography, or event analysis
• Strong Python programming skills
• Ability to design rigorous computational problems and independently verify solutions
• Comfortable working in Linux and terminal-based environments
• Research publications, open-source contributions, or substantial professional computational geophysics work are highly valued
• Experience with scientific teaching, advanced problem-set design, computational reproducibility, or containerised environments is advantageous

• Part-time independent contractor engagement
• Fully remote
• Expected commitment of at least 15–20 hours per week
• Flexible scheduling based on project requirements
• Compensation: $60–$75/hour
• Work involves computational problem design,…