Dear all,

from Geo-Tectonics - needs a student well versed in both
structural geology and geophysics, and able to live in
Spain and Taiwan.

Sheila Peacock, list co-owner.


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Barcelona PhD in seismotectonics of Taiwan
Date: 	Fri, 12 Sep 2014 09:47:47 +0200
From: 	dennis brown <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: 	Tectonics & structural geology discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
To: 	[log in to unmask]



Barcelona PhD in seismotectonics of Taiwan
Dear all
We have an opening for a Ph.D. student in seismotectonics of Taiwan within our newly funded project.
The position description is broad, but we are looking for a person who is interested in structural
geology (with a lot of field work in Taiwan) and its integration with various geophysical datasets,
including seismic tomography, seismology, and potential field data. The position is for 4 years and
will require completing a Masters degree. If the candidate already has a master degree, then they
will enter directly into the Ph.D. program. Since the Spanish Research Council (CSIC) is not a
teaching organisation, the Ph.D. will be through the Faculty of Geology at the University of
Barcelona (some 10 meters from our building). The candidate must be fluent in English and be
prepared for extended stays in Taiwan, since the position comes with the possibility to have
stays of up to 3 months. At least one month of field work per year in Taiwan is also to be expected.

Interested persons please contact Dr. Joaquina Alvarez-Marron ([log in to unmask]) or
Dr. Dennis Brown ([log in to unmask]) as soon as possible.

Please note, the Spanish system for applying for these positions is a bit complex, so any
person who is interested should  contact us now.

The*DEADLINE* for applications in the on-line application process is the*26th of September*.

Brief description of the project:

The aim of this project is to determine the effect that previous architecture of a continental
margin (morphology, structure, rheology) imposes on the early structural evolution of an
orogenic wedge. In particular, to determine the variations that these elements of the
continental margin (e.g., the change from the platform to the slope, or changes in extensional
basins) have on the geodynamics of the orogen and if they predetermine the subsequent structure
of the mountain belt. The study area is located in Taiwan, a region that is undergoing active
oblique arc-continent colision between the Luzon Arc and the continental margin of Eurasia.
In particular, in the south of Taiwan the continental margin is oblique to the trend of the
orogen. This disposition provides an exceptional natural example in which to undertake our
study since it provides a transect from the platform in the north to the slope in the south.
Furthermore, the large amount of seismicity in the region provides
a unique data set that allows us to use earthquake hypocenter locations to map faults at depth
and provides data for local seismic tomography. Our group has access to the data from some
900 seismic stations in Taiwan. The results obtained by the project will aid in the study
of mountain belts worldwide, including Spain, by helping to identify the causes of structural
inheritance related to the different parts of a continental margin. Also, it could help in
identifying hazardous faults in active orogens. This project will further develop, and
enhance on, an earlier project (CGL2009-11843-BTE).
The expected results can be divided into four groups;
1) Determination of the 3D structure and kinematics of the frontal part of the mountain
belt in southern Taiwan; a region that includes a basement-involved trust system. The
project has a large component of field studies that will focus on detailed structural
analyses.
2) Characterise the deep structure of the mountain belt by intergration of the field data
with geophysical data including; seismicity, P- and S-wave tomography, gravity, and
magnetism. To achieve this, we will model potential field data, and continue to work with
our Taiwanese colleauges on seismicity studies and developing new, higher resolution
tomographic models.
3) Determination of earthquake fault plane solutions, from which the P, T, and B axes
and the horizontal stress will be calculated for the study area. This will provide
information on the kinematics of the fault systems and on the state of stress in the
deforming slope of the continental margin.
4) Develop models for the geodynamic processes and the tectonic evolution of the area
and its application to other orogens worldwide, especially areas in which the Spanish
group has previously worked, such as the Iberian Massif, the Dominican Republic and
the Uralides. For this proposal, these processes include, but are not restricted to;
a) how the continental crust (in particular the thinned, slope area) deforms as it
arrives at an oblique collision zone,
b) what the importance is of pre-existing faults and the inversion of sedimentary basin
on the structural and kinematic evolution of the orogen, and in the distribution of sesimic
activity, and
c) what effect the change from the platform area of the margin to the slope has on the
structural/kinematic development
of the thrust wedge.


Yours sincerely
Dennis Brown
-- 

-----------
Dr. Dennis Brown
Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra "Jaume Almera"
c/Lluis Sole i Sabaris s/n
08028 Barcelona
Spain
Tel: 34 93 409 54 10
Fax: 34 93 411 00 12
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://diapiro.ija.csic.es/gt/dennisbrown/