Remote | Seismology & Computational Geophysics Specialist — $60–$75/hour

We are sharing a specialised part-time consulting opportunity for seismologists and computational geophysicists with graduate-level expertise in seismic modelling, inversion, imaging, scientific programming, and research-grade geophysical software.

This role supports advanced computational research based on real seismology and geophysics workflows. Selected experts will design original graduate-level problems requiring scientific software, numerical simulation, data interpretation, experimental planning, and rigorous quantitative reasoning, then develop reference solutions and refine tasks through iterative testing.

Key Responsibilities

Computational Geophysics Problem Design

• Create original graduate-level computational problems in seismology and geophysics
• Develop tasks based on realistic scientific and research workflows
• Design multi-step problems requiring numerical reasoning rather than straightforward calculation
• Create reproducible tasks with clearly defined inputs, outputs, and validation criteria
• Refine problem difficulty based on testing and technical feedback

Seismic Wave Modelling

• Develop problems involving seismic wave propagation and numerical simulation
• Create workflows for synthetic seismogram generation and interpretation
• Evaluate modelling assumptions, boundary conditions, source parameters, and numerical behaviour
• Design tasks requiring analysis of waveforms and propagation effects
• Apply practical knowledge of computational seismology to realistic research scenarios

Inversion & Seismic Imaging

• Create problems involving full-waveform inversion (FWI), travel-time tomography, and seismic imaging
• Develop tasks requiring inference of subsurface properties from partial or simulated observations
• Evaluate inversion strategies, model assumptions, convergence, and solution quality
• Design workflows involving parameter estimation and uncertainty
• Identify numerical or physical limitations that affect interpretation

Event Detection & Source Analysis

• Develop computational tasks involving earthquake or seismic-event detection and location
• Work with moment tensor inversion and source-characterisation workflows where relevant
• Design problems requiring interpretation of seismic arrivals, waveforms, and event parameters
• Evaluate detection and location uncertainty
• Create scenarios where multiple plausible interpretations must be distinguished through careful analysis

Scientific Software & Numerical Workflows

• Apply hands-on expertise with tools such as SPECFEM, ObsPy, Pyrocko, SimPEG, pyGIMLi, SeisBench, EQcorrscan, or Fatiando a Terra
• Develop reference workflows using specialised open-source geophysical software
• Work with other scientific codes built in Python, C, C++, or Fortran where appropriate
• Diagnose solver limitations, numerical edge cases, and implementation failures
• Apply appropriate computational methods to real geophysical problems

Scientific Programming & Validation

• Write problem setups, oracle functions, and solution validators
• Use Python to create reproducible computational workflows
• Verify numerical and scientific correctness of expected outputs
• Document assumptions, parameters, dependencies, and validation logic clearly
• Work comfortably within Linux and remote computational environments

Problem Testing & Refinement

• Test computational tasks against advanced systems
• Determine whether problems require genuine scientific reasoning rather than surface-level pattern matching
• Identify tasks that are too easy, ambiguous, or computationally impractical
• Refine prompts, datasets, constraints, and expected outputs until the intended difficulty is achieved
• Maintain strong standards of scientific accuracy and reproducibility

Ideal Profile

• Master's degree, PhD, or equivalent research experience in Seismology, Geophysics, Computational Geophysics, Earth Sciences, or a closely related STEM discipline
• Strong hands-on experience with computational seismology or geophysical modelling
• Proven proficiency with at least one specialised tool such as SPECFEM, ObsPy, Pyrocko, SimPEG, pyGIMLi, SeisBench, EQcorrscan, or comparable software
• Experience applying computational methods to real research or professional geophysics problems
• Strong understanding of seismic wave propagation, inversion, imaging, tomography, or event analysis
• Strong Python programming skills
• Ability to design rigorous computational problems and independently verify solutions
• Comfortable working in Linux and terminal-based environments
• Research publications, open-source contributions, or substantial professional computational geophysics work are highly valued
• Experience with scientific teaching, advanced problem-set design, computational reproducibility, or containerised environments is advantageous

Engagement Details

• Part-time independent contractor engagement
• Fully remote
• Expected commitment of at least 15–20 hours per week
• Flexible scheduling based on project requirements
• Compensation: $60–$75/hour
• Work involves computational problem design, reference-solution development, scientific validation, and iterative task refinement
• Projects may be extended, shortened, or concluded based on project needs and performance
• Work must be completed without using confidential or proprietary information belonging to any employer, client, institution, or other third party
• H1-B and STEM OPT support is unavailable for this engagement

About the Platform

This opportunity is available through 24-MAG LLC. We connect experienced professionals with remote consulting opportunities across technical, evaluation, and project-based workstreams.

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