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Four Job Position Announcements from the SCEC Community

Date: 05/03/2022

Dear SCEC Community,

Please see below for the following four job position announcements:

  • Seismologist-Postdoctoral Research Staff Member at LLNL
  • PhD position in computational earthquake physics at ETH Zurich
  • Software Engineer Position at Caltech
  • Seismological Laboratory Director’s Postdoctoral Scholar

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On behalf of Arben Pitarka, LLNL

Seismologist-Postdoctoral Research Staff Member

Institution: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Open Until: 2022-05-31

The Seismology Group at LLNL has an immediate opening for a Postdoctoral Staff Member to do original and independent research to support Geophysical Monitoring Programs (GMP). You will work on projects that focus on seismic event detection, event characterization, coda calibration and attenuation models. You will also work with the broader GMP team and its extensive seismic research and software databases. This position is in the Seismology Group within the Atmospheric, Earth, and Energy Division (AEED) in the Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Directorate. 

In this role you will: 

  • Conduct original and independent research, in collaboration with other LLNL researchers into improving our understanding of earthquakes and explosions, with the goal of improving capabilities to discriminate between seismic source types.
  • Assist in Low Yield Nuclear Monitoring (LYNM) Dynamic networks project focusing on event detection with an emphasis on cross-correlation techniques and leveraging these for event detection and characterization. 
  • Assist in Seismic Cooperation Program (SCP) focusing on international collaboration for joint data analysis with an emphasis on coda calibration method for moment magnitudes, lithospheric attenuation models and seismic hazard assessment.  
  • Explore new technologies and data analysis techniques that may improve the ability to detect, locate, identify, and characterize explosions in a background of natural earthquakes and other seismic sources.
  • Present research at meetings, as well as write, illustrate, and publish results in peer reviewed journals.
  • Work as part of a scientific team and interact with GMP and other researchers to design and implement research projects, while coordinating program requirements and deliverables for sponsors, including program reviews and technical reports.
  • Interact with sponsors, customers, partners, and data providers including universities, U.S. government agencies, national laboratories, foreign data providers, consortia, and international organizations (e.g. CTBTO).
  • Travel to assist with experiment execution, data collection, to interact with collaborators, sponsors and research customers and to present results at scientific meetings.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship.
  • PhD in seismology, geophysics, or related field. 
  • Creativity, ability, and knowledge in quantitative seismology.
  • Experience in collecting, processing, and analyzing local/regional seismic data, including event detection, location, and/or discrimination.
  • Proficiency in organizing and analyzing large databases of waveforms, events, amplitudes, and arrivals for performing quantitative analyses.
  • Familiarity with seismological and geophysical methods for characterizing the subsurface.
  • Experience with programming skills (e.g. Java, C/C++, and/or Python), and experience with heterogeneous computing environments (Mac or PC, UNIX or LINUX platforms).
  • Ability to interact effectively with a team of interdisciplinary scientists having different backgrounds.
  • Proficient verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present, explain and publish technical information.
  • Ability to travel internationally as needed.

Position Information

This is a Postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of extension to a maximum of three years.  Eligible candidates are those who have been awarded a PhD at time of hire date.

How to Apply

Please visit https://www.llnl.gov/join-our-team/careers/find-your-job/all/seismology/3743990000266355 to find the direct application form and learn more about the position and LLNL.

For questions please contact Rengin Gok (gok1@llnl.go) or Ana Aguiar (aguiarmoya1@llnl.gov).

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On behalf of Luca Dal Zilio, ETH Zurich

PhD position in Computational Earthquake Physics at ETH Zurich

The Seismology and Geodynamics group at ETH Zurich invites applications for one PhD student position in Computational Earthquake Physics. The PhD project is in the emerging domain of numerical modeling and earthquake physics. The PhD candidate will exploit the use of advanced physics-based modeling tools to investigate the interplay between seismic and aseismic slip on active tectonic faults. The objectives of this research project include (1) the thermo-mechanical parameters characterizing the seismic behavior of the brittle-ductile transition zone and (2) the impact of shear heating, grain size evolution, and energy feedbacks on the propagation of slow-slip events and large earthquakes.
The students will be part of a small solution-oriented team and contribute to advancing the state of the art in research on earthquake physics (https://seg.ethz.ch/research/computational-earthquake-physics.html). Requirements for each candidate are found in the accompanying link: https://www.jobs.ethz.ch/job/view/JOPG_ethz_JyM3wkdNgUzbZI9qhH

Please also use the link to apply. Students interested in the position should contact Luca Dal Zilio (luca.dalzilio@erdw.ethz.ch) with any questions about the project. The application deadline is June 15, 2022.

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On behalf of Monica Kohler, Caltech

Software Engineer Position at Caltech

Caltech is seeking a Software Engineer with experience and skill to join the Community Seismic Network (CSN) research team. CSN is a cloud-based network of accelerometer sensors deployed in the greater Los Angeles area to map ground motion intensity and building damage probability due to earthquakes. It is an exciting opportunity to be part of the first major seismic network to incorporate edge computing, and a move toward the Internet of Things (IoT). You can be part of this real-world application that will provide the detailed resolution for seismic analysis of the most populated county in the U.S., with future deployments extending beyond Southern California. The data comes from sensors in schools, high rises, and residences and will provide immediate information to first responders after disasters. It will also provide data to researchers and industry practitioners to better understand seismic hazard in the urban environment.

This is a full-time, 2-year term position and will be based at the Seismological Lab at Caltech. Limited remote work will be considered, but the majority of work hours will be in the Seismological Lab on the Caltech campus. The successful candidate will work closely with the CSN research team and Southern California Seismic Network staff at Caltech, as well as the Strong Motion Instrumentation Program operated by the California Geological Survey. 

This is an Essential Reporting position. An employee designated as essential reporting has essential job skills that are needed for response and recovery, and is expected to report to campus as soon as possible.

Essential Job Duties

This position requires the expertise to carry out the technical responsibilities associated with the maintenance of raw seismic data, data flow pathways, data products, and data archival. Tasks include:

  • Overseeing the monitoring and maintenance of client software on CSN stations and in AWS.
  • Monitoring deployments through logging and automated alerts.
  • Developing computer code to convert CSN waveform data to appropriate formats for archival and for ingestion into maps of shaking intensity.
  • Writing new and modifying existing computer code to improve the current system and implement new functionality.
  • Implementing and modifying data quality assessment metrics from existing code.
  • Ensuring that code, configurations, and procedures developed are tested, documented, and regularly checked into the CSN code repository.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, or M.S. in seismology, civil engineering, or physical science discipline.
  • Experience with Python, Javascript, and C++.
  • Experience with Linux and shell-based scripting.
  • Experience with backend IoT solutions (sensor network and data collection web server).
  • Experience with AWS or other similar cloud platforms.
  • Experience with Git/GitHub and CI/CD pipelines.
  • Ability to work well in a highly collaborative, team environment.

The full job listing with additional preferred requirements can be found at https://phf.tbe.taleo.net/phf03/ats/careers/v2/viewRequisition?org=CALTECH&cws=37&rid=8352.

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On behalf of Zach Ross, Caltech

Seismological Laboratory Director’s Postdoctoral Scholar

The Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) invites applications for the Seismological Laboratory Director’s Postdoctoral Scholar position.  We invite applications for a post doctoral position in any research area covered by the Seismological Laboratory, including, but not limited to: Observational seismology, earth structure, earthquake physics, earthquake early warning, computational geophysics, mineral physics, geodesy, geodynamics, and tectonics. We are especially interested in individuals whose research naturally links with any of the research programs within the Seismo Lab, GPS Division, or other parts of Caltech. A Ph.D. is required and initial appointment will be for one year. Starting date is flexible. Applicants should send a CV, a brief statement of research interests and experience, and arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent electronically to Jennifer Shechet at shechet@caltech.edu.

https://www.gps.caltech.edu/about/positions-available/postdoctoral-positions/seismological-laboratory-directors-postdoctoral-scholar

All applications and references are due by Friday, July 1, 2022.

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