Paula Marques Figueiredo
Post-Doctoral Research Asst
Jordan Hall, 2144
Bio
I joined MEAS during Fall 2019 as a Researcher and Lab Manager for the new Geochronology Laboratories applying Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides (10Be/26Al and 36Cl).
My research focus on Active Tectonics and Neotectonics, Earthquake Geology/Paleoseismology, and Tectonic Geomorphology. I study crust deformation through the interaction between active tectonic structures with the surface and how their deformation rates affect surface processes. To be able to constrain the deformation in time, I apply the Geochronology techniques available in MEAS Geochronology Laboratories (Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides and Luminescence). This allows me to quantify deformation rates (long-term or short term slip-rates, which are built upon several earthquakes) or obtain the timing of an individual slip (each earthquake occurrence).
I have also conducted research in uplifted Quaternary paleo sea-level references (marine terraces) to quantity vertical crustal deformation and decode the regional tectonic and GIA components associated with them.
Presently, I am researching the Mw 5.1 Sparta 2020 earthquake in North Carolina, a moderate event with surface rupture in the East US. I have active research projects on active faulting at several locations in California, along the San Andreas, San Jacinto, Banning faults, and in Eastern California Shear Zone (Camp Rock Fault) and Nevada (Paleoseismology of the Pleasant Valley Fault) and slip-rates of associated mountains fronts. I am also conducting research in Portugal, as a continuation of the research initiated during my Ph.D.
Education
PhD Geology University of Lisbon, Portugal 2015
Area(s) of Expertise
Active Tectonics, Earthquake Geology, Tectonic Geomorphology
Groups
Honors and Awards
- NSF award #2102530 “RAPID: Sparta Earthquake Surface Deformation Characterization”, Principal Investigator $29,752.00
- NSF award #1920414 “Collaborative research: Paleoseismology of the M7.3 1915 Pleasant Valley Earthquake Ruptures, Co-PI, $116,991.
- SCEC Southern California Earthquake Center award #19204: Cajon Pass Earthquake Gate Area: Refining the Cajon Pass Quaternary surfaces chronology implications for the long term slip rates of the San Jacinto and San Andreas systems, Principal Investigator, $25,422.
- SCEC Southern California Earthquake Center award #19171: High-Resolution Determination of Short-term Slip Rates, Southernmost San Andreas Fault, Co-PI, $26,643.
- SCEC Southern California Earthquake Center award #19132: Cajon Pass Earthquake Gate Area: Measuring the Holocene slip-rate of the Glen Helen strand of the northern San Jacinto fault zone at a newly discovered site in the Cajon Pass area, Co-PI. $ 30,269
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Grant: Collaborative Research with University of South Florida and University of Cincinnati: Characterization of long-term slip rates for Camp Rock Fault (Eastern California Shear Zone) using terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating, Principal Investigator, $36,966