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General Information

Full Name Navin Thapa
Office 3876 Central Ave. Room 101, Memphis, TN, 38152, USA
Nationality Nepal
Languages Nepali (native), English (fluent), and Hindi (fluent)

Research Interest

  • My interest involves studying repeating seismic activity, fault structures, and earthquake source processes. My research is dedicated to enhancing our understanding of pore pressure, seismicity, seismic b-value, and fault dynamics. To achieve this, I employ various approaches, including laboratory experiments, analytical and numerical models, as well as statistical analyses, with the goal of advancing our documentation in these areas.

    I combine insights and techniques from different fields including rock mechanics, earthquake seismology, and hydrogeology. By bringing together these diverse disciplines, I aim to address several important inquiries, including:

  • Understanding the mechanisms of stress accumulation and release in the Earth's crust.
  • Exploring how faults and fault systems respond to minor stress disturbances, such as those caused by fluid injection or extraction.
  • Examining the relationship between large-scale earthquakes and smaller-scale processes, and utilizing these processes to gain insights into fault structures and stresses within the Earth's crust.

Education

  • 2021-
    The University of Memphis – Ph.D. in Geoscience (Geophysics)
    • Awarded the Graduate Doctoral Researcher.
    • Advisor: Dr. Thomas Goebel.
    • I am working on Fault-structure and micro-seismicity statistics Earthquake precursors and preparatory processes before failure projects.
    • My Research title: A comprehensive study of microseismicity, b-value, pore pressure, and repeating seismic events during seismic cycles: insight from laboratory experiments .
    • My performed activities as Graduate Docotoral Researcher:
      • Systematized SeisComP Server for automatic data acquisition, real time processing, waveform archiving, event detection and location. and maintained seismic network using SeisComP for real-time monitoring of earthquakes and other seismic events (Long period, volcano tremor etc.)
      • Deployed seismic network of 7 seismometer instrument for monitoring of volcano seismicity in Santa Ana Volcano Santa Ana, El Salvador. .
      • Instrumented transient strain and acoustic emission measurements in laboratory-scale earthquake experiments.
      • Conducted theoretical studies on earthquake physics, including investigations of pore pressure and microseismicity statistics.
      • Applied digital image processing techniques to analyze laboratory slip behavior and capture bulk strain distribution information.
  • 2015-17
    Tribhuvan University – MSc in Geology
    • Department: Central Department of Geology
    • Advisor: Dr. Subesh Ghimire.
    • Thesis: Frequency Dependent Damage Pattern in Kathmandu Valley Due to Mw 7.8 Gorkha Earthquake .
  • 2010-13
    Tribhuvan University – B.Sc in Geology
    • College: Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus
    • Concentration: Geology, Physics, and Mathematics

Work Experience

  • 2021-now
    Graduate Doctoral Researcher
  • 2018-2021
    Co-founder, Geophysicist , Manifold Consult Pvt. Ltd.
    • Founded Manifold Consult Pvt. Ltd., a premier geophysics consulting firm dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and insights to diverse industries.
    • Geophysical Investigation: Electrical Resistivity Tomography Survey (ERT), Vertical Electrical Sounding, Seismic Refraction Tomography Survey (SRT), Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave Survey (MASW), Microtremor Array Measurement (MAM), Data Acquisition, Analysis and Interpretation, and Report Writing. Worked directly with clients to ensure scope is clearly defined and understood, disseminating to Manifold personnel for technical support, overseeing and managing implementation to meet scope, schedule, and budget constraints. Conducted geologic and engineering analyses including soil and rock slope stability, rock mass characterization, block modeling, and liquefaction analyses.
  • 2018
    Project Geologist, ERMC geotech Pvt. Ltd.
    • Geological Mapping, Geo-technical Investigation and testing materials, Engineering Geological Investigation, Data Analysis and Interpretation, and Report Writing. Assisted geologic and hydrologic studies, including fieldwork, and other hydrologic, geologic, and geophysical tasks both locally and nationally. East West Railway Project; Sunkoshi Hydropower Project
      • Associated Projects:
      • Feasibility Study of East-West Electrified Railway Project, Package-03
      • Geotechnical Study of Siwa Khola Hydropower Project, 9.3 Mega Watt
      • Geotechnical Study of Simbuwa Khola Hydropower Project, 70.34 Mega Watt
  • 2016-2018
    Assistant Geophysicist, CENTER for Geo-environment and Engineering Research Pvt. Ltd.
    • Investigated and measured seismic, electrical properties of affecting earth, Geophysical data analysis and interpretation, report writing, geological and engineering geological investigation of various projects. Associated Projects:
      • Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT) Survey of Upper Rukum Gadh Hydropower Project, Rukum Nepal.
      • ERT and SRT Survey of Nalgadh Hydroelectric Project (404 MW), Jajarkot, Nepal.
      • Geological, Geophysical and Geotechnical Study of Dandkharka Landslide, Dolakha,Nepal.
      • ERT and SRT survey of Inkhu Khola Small Hydropower Project (20MW), Solukhumbu, Nepal.
      • ERT and SRT Survey of Lower Hongu Khola Small Hydropower Project (23.5 MW), Solukhumbu, Nepal.

Software Skills

  • GitHub: https://github.com/nvnsthapa
  • Seismic Network: SeisComP 5.5.
  • Geophysics program: Seismic Unix (SU), Seismic Analysis Code (SAC), Generic Mapping Tools (GMT), RES2DINV, SeisImager/2D, SeisImager/SW
  • Graphis and mapping software: ArcGIS, CorelDraw, Microsoft office, Surfer, Grapher

Other Interests

  • Sports: Cricket, Football
  • Hobbies: Traveling, Philosophy, and Field work