Research Fellow in Geophysics; Earthquake Seismology

Research Fellow in Geophysics (Earthquake Seismology)

Location:

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

Position:
Postdoctoral Researcher in Earthquake Seismology (NERC‑funded project TMAX)

We seek a seismologist to fill a Postdoctoral research position as part of a new NERC‑funded project investigating seismicity, fluid processes and structure in active rift zones. The new project – Testing Models of Active Extension (TMAX) – will involve collection and analysis of new earthquake data in the Corinth Rift, Greece. The researcher will take a lead role in fieldwork during the project (deployment and maintenance of seismometers onshore and participation in a short research cruise) and will have the opportunity to work directly with our project partners based in Greece.

• Hold or be in the final stages of a PhD in a subject relevant to the project.
• Have experience handling large passive seismic datasets and processing and analysing seismicity data.
• Have experience communicating your research results through presentations at scientific conferences and publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Possibly have experience in seismological fieldwork and competence in crustal seismic imaging from local or teleseismic data.
• Competence in interpreting seismicity results with tectonic and structural geology information is also desirable.

• Integrate seismicity data collected by a new onshore‑offshore temporary seismic network with data from existing permanent seismic networks in Greece.
• Implement automated detection of seismicity and derivation of a high‑quality seismicity catalogue.
• Perform additional analysis including earthquake relocation, focal‑mechanism determination/moment‑tensor inversion, and waveform frequency‑content analysis.
• Engage in seismic imaging of crustal structure using techniques such as local earthquake tomography, ambient‑noise tomography, and teleseismic receiver functions.
• Contribute to the management and implementation of the seismic network in the field.

You will be part of a world‑class research environment within the Geology and Geophysics Research group in the School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton. The group is one of the largest in the UK working on projects in active tectonics and geophysics. The School of Ocean and Earth Science is in the global top 40 of Earth and Marine Sciences (QS World University Rankings 2025) and offers a rich community of Earth and marine scientists based at the National Oceanography Centre Southampton – a unique location with outstanding facilities.

We provide access to mentoring, career development and networking opportunities. As a founding signatory of the Athena SWAN charter and holder of an institutional silver award, we are committed to improving equality. We aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and proactively foster a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We also provide additional benefits, such as a generous holiday allowance and additional university closure days, as well as support for long‑term future through the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts.

Southampton, England, United Kingdom

For additional information, please email Professor Lisa McNeill,

Apply by 11:59 PM GMT on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on or  quoting the job number.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.