Universidad de Concepción

I am a geologist interested on how the large-scale thermomechanic and rheologic structure of the Andean converging margin impacts on its seismotectonic behaviour and geodynamic evolution, with applications to other subduction zones either. I am currently driving a research project to study the role of lower crustal ductile deformation on the postseismic relaxation after the three large XXI century Chilean earthquakes. For this, we will update a geophysically-constrained 3D density model of the entire Andean margin, use this as input for 3D thermal models that will be then converted into a mechanical representation of the system that can be finally used to model the GNSS-observed surface deformation after the large megathrust earthquakes. I our research group we are also developing deep-learning seismicity catalogues and exploring their use to assess the spatio-termporal evolution of seismic activity. For this, we are creating our own set of computational tools integrating classical methods for the estimation of the b-value (maximum likelihood method of Aki, 1965) with new approaches (b-more-positivie of Lipiello and Petrillo, 2024). Our research group is formed by experienced and young professors of Geology and Geophysics Departments plus PhD, Master and undergrad students, we meet once every two weeks to discuss advances in the different research lines and we enjoy the nice and relaxed research environment that we have been creating over the last years.