Research Fellow in Geophysics (Earthquake Seismology)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK research university is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to lead seismic data analysis for a project in active rift zones in Greece. Candidates should have a relevant PhD, experience with seismic datasets, and communication skills for publishing results. The role involves fieldwork, data processing, and collaboration with international partners, offering opportunities for career development in a leading research environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Access to mentoring and networking opportunities

Subsidised health and fitness facilities

Qualifications

• You will hold or be in the final stages of a PhD in a subject relevant to the project.
• Experience in handling large datasets and processing seismicity data is required.
• Competence in interpreting seismicity results with tectonic information is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead fieldwork and manage the seismic network for the project.
• Combine new seismicity data with existing network data for analysis.
• Implement automated detection of seismicity and create a high-quality catalogue.

Skills

Experience handling large passive seismic datasets

Data processing and analysis of seismicity

Communication of research results

Seismological fieldwork

Crustal seismic imaging

Interpreting seismicity results

Education

PhD in relevant subject

Job description

Organisation/Company UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Research Field Physics Environmental science Geosciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Country United Kingdom Application Deadline 12 Jan 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

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.

About you

You will hold or be in the final stages of a PhD in a subject relevant to the project. You will have experience handling large passive seismic datasets and processing and analysing seismicity data. You will also have experience in communicating your research results, through presentation at scientific conferences and through publication in peer-reviewed journals. Ideally you will also 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.

The role

The postdoctoral researcher will join a team of experienced UK and Greek scientists on the project. The researcher will combine seismicity data collected by a new onshore-offshore temporary seismic network with data from existing permanent seismic networks in Greece. Data processing will include implementation of automated detection of seismicity and subsequent derivation of a high-quality seismicity catalogue. Additional analysis will include earthquake relocation, focal mechanism determination / moment tensor inversion, and waveform frequency content analysis. The role may include seismic imaging of crustal structure using techniques such as local earthquake tomography, ambient noise tomography and teleseismic receiver functions. The researcher will also contribute to the management and implementation of the seismic network in the field. We anticipate a start date for the position of June 1, 2026, with some flexibility on exact start time.

What we can offer you

You will be part of a world-class research environment within the Geology and Geophysics Research group in theSchool 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.

The University provides 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 we proactively foster a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work, as well as providing additional benefits, such as a generous holiday allowance and additional university closure days. We will support your long-term future, providing access to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts.

For additional information, please email Professor Lisa McNeill,[e-mail]