Research Fellow (Paleoseismology & Neotectonics)/ (GNSS Processing and Analysis)/ (Seismic Source Characterisation)/ (Ground Motion Characterisation)/ (Geotechnics & Geophysics)

Nanyang Technological University · Singapore

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Join Our Multidisciplinary Team at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

These cluster hires will contribute to an integrated programme spanning fault assessment, seismic and geodetic monitoring, earthquake physics, ground-motion modelling, site response, exposure and vulnerability, and probabilistic seismic hazard and risk assessment, working to strengthen Singapore’s national capabilities. New hires will join a multidisciplinary research team spanning Nanyang Technological University’s Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS), Asian School of the Environment (ASE), and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). For more information, please visit: https://earthobservatory.sg, https://ntu.edu.sg/ase, and https://ntu.edu.sg/cee.

We are looking to fill a total of 5 Research Fellow (postdoctoral scholar) positions:

(1) Research Fellow (Paleoseismology & Neotectonics)

We are looking for a Research Fellow to lead paleoseismic trench investigations to reconstruct past fault activity. The role will focus on mapping potentially active faults, planning trench geometry, directing excavation, leading trench logging in the field, and interpreting stratigraphic and structural evidence for past earthquakes, then synthesising trench, dating, and sedimentological results into site reports suitable for technical review and possible publication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analyse existing geological data and digital terrain models to refine fault locations ahead of trenching
• Collaborate with in-house experts in geophysical and CPT techniques to conduct preliminary surveys of candidate trench sites
• Lead planning and execution of paleoseismic trench investigations at multiple sites
• Design trench geometry and excavation strategies in consultation with the project leadership team
• Direct field activities, including trench excavation, wall preparation, gridding, logging, surveying, and sampling
• Lead interpretation of stratigraphic and structural relationships and assess evidence for past faulting and earthquake deformation
• Develop sampling strategies and coordinate geochronological, sedimentological, and other laboratory analyses
• Integrate field, borehole, geomorphic, geophysical, and laboratory evidence to develop histories of faulting
• Prepare trench logs, datasets, technical reports, conference abstracts, presentations, scientific manuscripts
• Mentor and supervise Research Associates and Research Assistants working within the trenching team
• Contribute to site prioritisation, subsequent field planning, and broader project synthesis

Job Requirements:

• PhD in geology, geoscience, Earth science, geotechnical engineering, or a related field
• At least 4 years of paleoseismic trenching experience, including a leading role in trench investigations at multiple sites and experience in different sedimentary and tectonic environments (experience gained during Master’s or PhD research may be counted towards this requirement)
• Demonstrated ability to map faults based on topographic and geomorphic expression, plan trench geometry, direct excavation, lead trench logging, and interpret stratigraphic and structural relationships in the field
• Familiarity with paleoseismic documentation standards appropriate for independent technical review, and with geochronological methods used to date past earthquakes
• Proficiency with relevant mapping, drafting, GIS, and structure-from-motion software
• Good written and oral communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports for review by external experts
• Ability to lead a small field team, work collaboratively across disciplines, and deliver results under fieldwork and permitting constraints
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with meticulous attention to field documentation
• Willingness and ability to perform demanding physical fieldwork, including extended periods in trenches in warm tropical regions, and to travel for fieldwork in the region.

(2) Research Fellow (GNSS Processing and Analysis)

We are looking for a Research Fellow to join EOS. The successful candidate will work under the supervision of Asst Prof Lujia FENG and focus on GNSS data processing and analysis for tectonic deformation studies. The primary purpose of this position is to conduct high-quality research using geodetic observations to quantify crustal deformation, characterize fault-slip processes, and improve our understanding of earthquake hazards. The candidate will develop and maintain GNSS processing workflows, contribute to the interpretation of geodetic observations, and support ongoing research projects within the tectonics and geodesy research programme. The RF is also expected to contribute actively to other research activities within EOS.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement an automated post-processing workflow for GNSS data analysis using multiple software packages, including PRIDE PPP-AR, GAMIT/GLOBK, and GipsyX
• Process raw GNSS data, analyze position time series, and estimate station velocities and associated uncertainties
• Compile and assess published GNSS velocity fields for Southeast Asia
• Contribute to the integration of InSAR and GNSS observations and the development of deformation fields, strain-rate maps, and geodetic models
• Present scientific results at local and international meetings and conferences
• Write up research results for publication in reputable international journals
• Assist with data management, documentation, and the preparation of technical reports
• Participate actively in research meetings, project discussions, and progress reporting

Job Requirements:

• PhD in geodesy or related field
• At least 3 years of relevant experiences in GNSS data processing
• Strong computation skills with experience using MATLAB and/or Python
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Evidence of being able to work both independently and collaboratively, with a strong team spirit

(3) Research Fellow (Seismic Source Characterisation)

We are looking for a Research Fellow to develop the seismic-source component of Singapore’s national seismic hazard model. The role will focus on compiling and evaluating earthquake and fault datasets, modelling source geometry and earthquake occurrence, quantifying epistemic uncertainty, and building auditable logic-tree inputs for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments (PSHA).

Key Responsibilities:

• Compile, reconcile, and quality-assure earthquake catalogues and waveform datasets from Singapore, regional agencies, and international sources; undertake magnitude harmonisation, declustering, completeness analysis, and reanalysis of historical nearby events
• Evaluate geological, seismological, and geodetic evidence from other teams and external partners to identify and characterise relevant seismic sources
• Develop PSHA seismic-source models covering source geometries, distributed-seismicity zones, smoothed seismicity, three-dimensional shallow-crustal and subduction-interface structures, magnitude-frequency distributions, recurrence parameters, and maximum magnitudes
• Quantify epistemic uncertainty in alternative source interpretations and implement well-documented branches and weights in the seismic-source logic tree
• Integrate seismic-source models with ground-motion characterisation in version-controlled PSHA workflows; perform exploratory hazard calculations, sensitivity and disaggregation analyses
• Prepare reproducible datasets, code, technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations

Job Requirements:

• PhD in Earthquake Engineering, Civil Engineering, Seismology, Geophysics, Earth Sciences, Engineering Seismology, or a closely related field
• Strong research record in seismic-source characterisation, earthquake-catalogue analysis, statistical seismology, earthquake-occurrence modelling, fault-source modelling, or probabilistic seismic hazard assessment
• Demonstrated experience in earthquake-catalogue processing, including declustering, completeness analysis, magnitude harmonisation, recurrence modelling, magnitude-frequency distributions, or maximum-magnitude assessment
• Sound knowledge of distributed and fault-based source models, spatial seismicity modelling, logic trees, and the treatment of epistemic uncertainty in PSHA
• Proficiency in Python or a comparable scientific programming language, together with experience in geospatial analysis, reproducible computational workflows, and version control; familiarity with the OpenQuake Engine and the OpenQuake Model Building Toolkit is advantageous
• Ability to manage and quality-assure large, heterogeneous datasets and to produce transparent, traceable technical documentation suitable for scientific review
• Good written and oral communication skills, with the ability to work independently, publish high-quality research, collaborate across multidisciplinary and international teams, and manage multiple research tasks

(4) Research Fellow (Ground Motion Characterisation)

We are looking for a Research Fellow to develop the ground-motion component of Singapore’s national seismic hazard model. The role will focus on evaluating regional and global strong-motion data, selecting and adjusting ground-motion models, characterising site response and uncertainty, and building auditable logic-tree inputs for probabilistic seismic hazard assessments (PSHA).

Key Responsibilities:

• Compile, review, and quality-assure regional and global strong-motion databases, waveform records, and associated metadata, assessing their completeness and applicability to Singapore’s tectonic and geological setting
• Analyse regional recordings and model residuals and select candidate ground-motion models for relevant tectonic regimes, including shallow-crustal, subduction-interface, and intraslab earthquakes
• Apply stochastic ground-motion simulations to augment limited empirical data, particularly for nearby sources, and evaluate model performance through sensitivity and validation studies
• Develop and test host-to-target adjustments accounting for regional differences in stress drop, anelastic attenuation, kappa, source, path, and site effects
• Characterise site response and amplification, including the suitability of Vs30-based classifications, nonlinear soil behaviour, and other parameters relevant to Singapore’s geological conditions and built environment
• Characterise aleatory variability and quantify epistemic uncertainty through documented branches and weights in the ground-motion logic tree
• Integrate ground-motion characterisation with seismic-source models in version-controlled PSHA workflows

Job Requirements:

• PhD in Earthquake Engineering, Civil Engineering, Seismology, Geophysics, Earth Sciences, Engineering Seismology, or a closely related field
• Strong research record in ground-motion modelling, strong-motion data analysis, ground-motion models or prediction equations, stochastic simulation, site-response analysis, or probabilistic seismic hazard assessment
• Demonstrated experience in processing and quality-assuring strong-motion datasets and conducting residual analysis, model selection, model calibration, sensitivity testing, or validation
• Sound knowledge of earthquake source, path, and site effects, including stress drop, attenuation, kappa, site amplification, nonlinear soil behaviour, and aleatory and epistemic uncertainty
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, Julia, or a comparable scientific programming language, with experience in numerical analysis, reproducible workflows, and version control; familiarity with the OpenQuake Engine, the OpenQuake Model Building Toolkit, and strong-motion databases is advantageous
• Ability to manage large datasets, develop transparent and auditable modelling workflows, and produce clear technical documentation suitable for expert review
• Good written and oral communication skills, with the ability to work independently, publish high-quality research, collaborate across multidisciplinary and international teams, and manage multiple research tasks

(5) Research Fellow (Geotechnics & Geophysics)

We are looking for a Research Fellow to 1) curate and integrate available geotechnical, geological, and geophysical datasets; 2) develop 3D models for the characterization of near-surface geological formations; 3) develop geophysical methods for imaging and characterizing subsurface structures.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop novel 3D modelling algorithms for near-surface characterization using curated geo-data
• Contribute to the development of intelligent geophysical imaging algorithms
• Publish high-impact research articles in leading international journals
• Assist in the preparation and development of competitive research proposals
• Support the supervision and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students

Job Requirements:

• PhD in Geotechnics, Geophysics, or a related field
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in geological modelling and/or geophysical imaging
• Familiarity with site investigation, borehole logging, and geophysical approaches
• Experience with machine learning or deep learning is preferred
• Good written and oral communication skills

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• A succinct cover letter (not more than one page) detailing research interests and relevant experience
• The name and contact information for 3 references; institutional e-mail addresses are preferred, but other addresses will be accepted with suitable explanation
• If the candidate has relevant publications, they may include web links (URLs) in the CV or as an annex to the cover letter (this will not count toward the one-page limit)

We seek a diverse and inclusive workforce and are committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all and recruit on the basis of merit, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, marital status and family responsibilities, or disability.

We regret to inform you that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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