Meet Amy Woodward, PhD candidate at the Department of Earth Science and Engineering (ESE) at Imperial. Amy is investigating ‘slow earthquakes’, some of which can unfold over weeks or even months. As well as diving into this recently discovered phenomenon, Amy also shares her personal journey in our latest ESE blog, revealing what inspired her to study Geophysics and pursue a PhD at ESE.
Describe your PhD project in a tweet:
Slow and fast earthquakes at the Hikurangi margin subduction zone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
How do you see your research making an impact within and beyond academia?
Slow earthquakes are a recently discovered phenomenon, so it is an exciting time to be doing research in this field, as our understanding of these events is rapidly evolving. More importantly however, better understanding earthquakes is important for characterising earthquake hazards and their potentially devastating impacts. In this project, we’re looking at the role fluids play in earthquake distributions in space and time, using a range of seismological methods. There are different types of earthquakes recorded in this region; some occur very slowly (over several weeks or even months), while some occur very quickly (over a few seconds). We’re particularly interested in how these different types of earthquakes interact and what that means for potential large earthquakes in the future.
What sparked your interest in your research area?
During school, I particularly enjoyed geography, maths, and physics. I studied Geophysics during my undergraduate degree to combine these subjects. My specific interest in earthquakes was sparked when I took a seismology module in my second year. I enjoyed the mix of coding/data analysis and being able to apply this to learn more about earthquake-prone regions, so continued to pursue this in my master’s thesis and now PhD.
Talk us through a typical day in your life as a PhD student. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
My day is usually a mix of coding, reading, and data analysis. A couple of times a week I will meet with my supervisors or our wider research group, as well as doing some teaching. I have spent a couple of months every year on fieldwork, which makes for a great change from being in the office every day!
How do you navigate challenges and setbacks in your PhD journey?
By talking to other PhD students or my supervisors about it. It usually turns out that everyone has been in a similar position at some point and can offer advice! A PhD can be quite a solitary undertaking, so it’s great to have a supportive network of people in the department.
What motivated you to pursue your PhD at ESE?
I looked at lots of different projects and universities before deciding to study within the ESE department. I chose the project because it included a range of methods I was already interested in, with the opportunity to learn much more about coding and seismology. The project also included fieldwork in Aotearoa New Zealand. Spending two weeks on a research vessel has been a highlight of the PhD so far!
What advice would you give to prospective PhD students considering a similar research path?
A PhD isn’t necessarily as niche as it sounds. Before starting the PhD, I didn’t fully appreciate how varied the three and a half years would be. Committing to spending a few years in one area of research can feeling daunting, but it has been a very varied experience so far. It’s also not just working at a computer all the time – I’ve been lucky to attend international conferences, teach and collaborate with students, be involved in outreach projects in schools, and do fieldwork in Japan, Italy, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
What do you do to wind down?
Spend time with friends – preferably outdoors!
What are colleagues least likely to know about you?
I play viola in a string quartet – we’ve performed in venues like the Jazz Cafe Camden, National Gallery, and Natural History Museum. It’s great fun doing something so different from earthquake research – though I suppose they both still involve waveforms…