Call for application of 11 PhD positions in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network
“TREAD: daTa and pRocesses in sEismic hAzarD” project

The Background

Earthquakes are responsible for about one-third of the global economic and human natural disaster loss (World Conference on Disaster Reduction 2004). In the last 30 years, about 1,000 earthquakes have been the first cause of worldwide deaths due to natural disasters (about 800,000 known fatalities), and the second cause of worldwide economic losses due to natural disasters (US$844 billion). Yet our ability to assess earthquakes risk and to communicate those risks remains insufficient to enhance the resilience of societies.

The Aim

To train a new generation of researchers to tackle the challenges of earthquake forecasting in complex tectonic settings using integrated observations and physics.

Application deadline: 4th May 2023 – 10:00 (UTC)*
*Due to technical problems
Starting  date: latest 31st October 2023
Call on Euraxess website

The Objectives

  1. To develop a novel integrative approach to seismic hazard analysis in Europe and the Mediterranean by bridging the gap from small-scale laboratory experiments to large-scale observations.
  2. To establish a chain of physics-based earthquake modelling to connect millions of years tectonic deformation to dynamic earthquake ruptures at fractions of a second in complex tectonic settings.
  3. To transfer earthquake geology and computational modelling to hazard and risk assessment adapted to the need of government, industry and scientific stakeholders.

The Consortium

Comprises 14 academic and 8 non-academic institutions, of which 8 private partners, of high scientific level, from 7 European countries, covering cutting-edge knowledge and expertise in observational, experimental and modelling fields.

The Individual Research Projects

PhD Projects Title of the project Host Institution/
Short name/ Website		 Main supervisors Duration
1 Earthquake timing in complex fault zones: new approaches in paleoseismology Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Spain Maria Ortuno (UB) 3 years
1 Combining InSAR and seismo-thermo-mechanical models to understand earthquake sequences in complex fault system: application to Central Apennines (Italy) Université Grenoble-Alpes (UGA), France Erwan Pathier (UGA) 3 years
1 The seismic signatures of aseismic processes with deep learning powered monitoring Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Switzerland Men-Andrin Meier (ETH) 3 years
1 Linking fault damage zone mechanical and geometrical characteristics with fault seismic history CEREGE-CNRS- Aix Marseille Université (CNRS-CEREGE), France
Enrolled at the Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), France		 Lucilla Benedetti (CNRS-CEREGE) 3 years
1 Flow to friction transition and back in carbonate rocks Universiteit Utrecht (UU), Netherlands André Niemeijer (UU)
Giulio Di Toro (UNIPD)		 4 years
1 Formation of fault damage zones in carbonates and their role in the seismic cycle Università degli Studi di Padova (UNIPD), Italy Giulio Di Toro (UNIPD)
Alice Gabriel (LMU)		 3 years
1 How tectonics affects seismic hazard parameters in complex continental settings Universiteit Utrecht (UU), Netherlands Ylona van Dinther (UU) 4 years
1 Integrating physics-based earthquake rupture models in seismic hazard assessments Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Germany Alice-Agnes Gabriel (LMU) 3 years
1 Modelling synthetic catalogues of earthquake ruptures in complex interacting fault systems Università degli Studi di Chieti-Pescara (Ud’A), Italy Bruno Pace (Ud’A) 3 years
1 Modelling distributed seismicity using innovative approaches Fondazione GEM (GEM), Italy
Enrolled at the Università degli studi di Milano Bicocca (UNIMIB), Italy		 Marco Pagani (GEM) 3 years
1 Assessment of the impact of advanced seismic hazard modelling approaches in earthquake risk Fondazione GEM (GEM), Italy
Enrolled at the Università degli Studi di Chieti-Pescara (Ud’A), Italy		 Vitor Silva (GEM) 3 years

The Training Program

Provides a motivating and stimulating environment by building a community across disciplines and countries aiming at a common goal.

It will ensure for the Doctoral Candidates (DCs):

  1. Integration across disciplines.
  2. Networking between academic and non-academic participants.
  3. Top-class academic environments.
  4. Development of career perspectives (in academia and in the private sector) and leadership capabilities, to ensure the employability of the DCs.
  5. Exposure to other fields of activities: each DC will spend a significant period of time (up to 12 months) at one or two institutions, and in most cases to another sectorial path (academic, private-sector or policy-making paths).

The Recruitment

Skills/Qualifications

  • MSc, MRes, MEng, or equivalent in Earth Sciences, Physics, Engineering, Computational Sciences, Applied Mathematics, or a related discipline.
  • The project target students with strong interest in earthquake hazards studies and with strong basis in earthquake geology, and/or seismology, and/or earthquake physics, and/or rock physics, and/or geodesy, and/or geophysics, and/or structural geology, and/or computational science, and/or seismic hazard, and/or structural engineering. Research experience on these topics is considered an advantage, but not mandatory. Additional skills are indicated in each individual PhD project description under ΄Additional advantageous skills΄.
  • Appreciation for interdisciplinary work and proactive drive to collaborate across disciplines
  • Proficient in the English language.
  • Candidates must meet the specific requirements of the University where they will be enrolled.

Benefits

  • TREAD fellows will be employed according to the rules for doctoral candidates in MSCA-DNs and the general regulations of each host institution.
  • The financial package will include the monthly researcher allowances subdivided into 1) a living allowance of €3,400 (country correction coefficient applies), 2) a mobility allowance of €600 and, 3) a family allowance (€660), if applicable. Employer costs and other deductions depend on recruiting host.
  • DC will be given an employment contract for 36 months by their host institution and will be entitled to full employee benefits and inclusion in social security schemes of the host country.

Eligibility criteria

  • Supported researchers: applicants must be doctoral candidates, i.e., not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of recruitment.
  • Mobility rule: researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (e.g., work, studies) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.
  • Other eligibility criteria may apply depending on the recruiting beneficiary.

How to apply?

TREAD will select 11 doctoral candidates through a 4-step recruitment process.

 

1st step

Candidates can apply for maximum three PhD projects and the applications need to be submitted separately via email (proposal-support@innovationacta.eu) by the 4th May 2023.

 

Applications (in English) must include:

  1. an updated CV
  2. a cover letter, which will also include the motivation for the position
  3. two contact details of references
  4. the scanned copy of the diploma
  5. transcripts of records.

2nd step

The eligibility check will be carried out on the basis of the candidates’ CV and cover letter by a Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC). Applicants admitted to Step 3 will be invited for an interview by email within May 30th, 2023.

 

3rd step

All interviews will be conducted remotely by the end of June by the SEC of each PhD project. 

 

4th step

The selected candidates will be asked to provide a written acceptance of the PhD position (i.e., a confirm by email).

For more information drop a line to info@tread-horizon.eu

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No: 101072699.