About
Biography
I am a postdoctoral fellow at the Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (Caltech). I obtained my Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2025. Prior to my doctoral studies, I served as a research assistant at the Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, from 2020 to 2021. I received my B.Sc. in Geophysics from Peking University (PKU) in 2020.
Research Interests
As an observational geophysicist, my research focuses on applying seismological approaches to constrain the dynamics and evolution of tectonic plates, the cryosphere, and other terrestrial bodies (e.g., the Moon and Mars). My work aims to uncover fundamental physical principles that govern seismic behavior across diverse geophysical systems. I am particularly interested in how seismic observations bridge processes across scales and environments.
Dinner with Heidi, John, Yehuda and Tom after my PhD defense
News
- 01/2026 My paper Large megathrust earthquakes in cold mantle wedge corners under lawsonite blueschist facies is accepted by Nature Communications
- 06/2025 I start my new position as a postdoctoral scholar research associate at Caltec.
- 04/2025 I successfully defended my Ph.D. thesis!
- 04/2025 I have started my service on the AGU Seismology Session Early Career Subcommittee
- 01/2025 I received postdoc fellowships from both SeismoLab at Caltech and IGPP, UCSD
Resume
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Geological Sciences
2021 - 2025
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- Advisors: John E. Vidale & Yehuda Ben-Zion
- Dissertation: Dynamics and Structure of Subduction Zones Unveiled through Novel Seismological Techniques
Bachelor of Science in Geophysics
2016 - 2020
Peking University, Beijing, China
- Advisors: Xiaofei Chen & Shiyong Zhou
- Thesis: Frequency-Bessel Transform Method to Extract Higher-Mode Rayleigh Dispersion Curves
Professional Experience
Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate
2025 - Now
Seismological Laboratory, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
Research Assistant
2020 - 2021
Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, China
Selected Honors & Awards
- 2025 Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Postdoctoral Fellowship, IGPP, UCSD
- 2025 Geophysics Option Postdoctoral Fellowship, Caltech
- 2024 Earth Sciences Graduate Student Research Award, USC
- 2020 Distinguished Graduate, PKU
- 2020 Distinguished Graduate, Beijing City
- 2019 Outstanding Research Award, PKU
Publications
* Only first / corresponding-author papers are listed. Full list available on [Google Scholar]
- [8] Zhang, H., Zhai, Q., Reid-McLaughlin, A., Park, S., Chamberlin, T., Costa, L., Kubiak, G., Lefler, C., Steinkraus, J., Klesh, A., Kaip, G. & Zhan, Z., Monitoring Glacial Grounding Zone Icequakes With Fiber-Optic and Dense Seismic Arrays (in prep.)
- [7] Zhang, H. & Zhan, Z., Illuminating ruptures of moderate earthquakes with multi‑fibre networks (under review in Sci. Adv.)
- [6] Zhang, H. & Vidale, J.E., Earthquake Shaking Scales with Rupture Complexity Revealed by Aftershock Pattern (under review in Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.)
- [5] Zhang, H., Barbot, S., Yang, Z., Zhang, L., Liu, M. & Platt, J., Large megathrust earthquakes in cold mantle wedge corners under lawsonite blueschist facies, Nature Commun., in press
- [4] Zhang, H., Vidale, J.E. & Wang, W. (2025) Aftershocks on the planar rupture surface of the deep-focus Mw 7.9 Bonin Islands earthquake, The Seismic Record, 5(1): 35-43
- [3] Zhang, H., Vidale, J.E. & Wang, W. (2024) Scattering evidence for an ancient subducted slab using the novel raypath P*PKP, Geophy. Res. Let., 51, e2024GL110130
- [2] Zhang, H. & Ben-Zion, Y. (2024) Enhancing regional seismic velocity model with higher-resolution local results using sparse dictionary learning, JGR: Solid Earth, 129, e2023JB027016
- [1] Zhang, H., Meng, H. & Ben-Zion, Y. (2023) Lateral Variations Across the Southern San Andreas Fault Zone Revealed from Analysis of Traffic Signals at a Dense Seismic Array, Geophy. Res. Let., 50, e2023GL103759
Self-assessment of my published work in the dimensions of novelty and solidity.
Contact
Email:
Location:
South Mudd Room 266, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125
Last Update: January 2026