Team Members

Dr. Sheri Molnar
Principal Investigator and Associate Professor
Dept. Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario

Dr. Hadi Ghofrani
Research Scientist, Dept. Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario
Basin modelling, 3D wave propagation simulations, Simulation of earthquake ground motions, Site characterization and seismic microzonation

Dr. Mohammad Salsabili
Research Associate, ICLR
Site characterization and seismic microzonation, geospatial database management, 3D geological and geotechnical modelling, statistical and geostatistical analysis

Alex Bilson Darko
Project Manager (part-time), ICLR
Intermediate Geophysicist, Golder/WSP (Mississauga)

Claire Mortera
Administrative Assistant
Provides “administrative/technical” research support to the Vancouver project in consultation with Sheri Molnar (Principal Investigator) and Alex Bilson Darko (Project Manager, ICLR). Oversee financial management of the project within the Western system, aid with logistics and financial reconciling related to research activities and summer field campaigns.

Dr. Jamal Assaf
PhD Geotechnical Engineering (2022), Dept. Civil & Env. Engineering, UWO
Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer, Golder/WSP (Vancouver)
Shaking (amplification) hazard mapping, 1D and 2D site response analyses

Dr. Ali Fallah Yeznabad
PhD Geotechnical Engineering (2021), Dept. Civil & Env. Engineering, UWO
Intermediate Geotechnical Engineer, GHD (Mississauga)
Seismic slope stability mapping and analyses 

Sujan Raj Adhikari
PhD Geophysics Candidate, Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Manager of the geodatabase, 3D geological modelling, seismic microzonation mapping, 

Alireza Javanbakht
PhD Geophysics Candidate, Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Liquefaction analyses and regional liquefaction assessment with application to Greater Vancouver, British Columbia

Shuqi Bian
Ph.D. Geophysics Student, Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO

Dr. Adebayo Ojo
Research Associate (part-time), University of Western Ontario
Improving the Geometry and Velocity Structure of the Georgia Basin Region. The main goal of this research is to develop a new 3D velocity model of the crust in and around the Georgia Basin useful for seismic hazard studies. By performing surface wave tomography using ambient seismic noise data, we hope to obtain an improved model of the shallow structure (upper km’s) and the basin geometry. Our results will fill the gap between the existing velocity models and guide future seismometer deployment.

Aamna Sirohey
MSc Geophysics (2022), Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Data Processing Manager, Expert Geophysics Ltd.
The MHVSR method, Manager of the MHVSR dataset, Site amplification functions

 

Meredith Fyfe
MSc Geophysics student (part-time), Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Graduate GIS Technician, Mott Macdonald (Mississauga)
Use, metrics and communication of seismic microzonation mapping products

Chris Boucher
MSc Geophysics (2022), Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Seismic Analyst, NRCAN (Ottawa)
Non-invasive methods and their application in complex geology, in particular on sloping ground or from lateral variability (non-1D site effects) 

Sameer Ladak
MSc Geophysics (2020), Dept. Earth Sciences, UWO
Junior Geophysicist, Municon West Coast
Non-invasive methods and their application in complex geology, in particular on stiff ground to hard rock 

Natalia Gomez
M.Sc. Geophysics Candidate, UWO, Dept. Earth Sciences
Empirical nonlinear site response at similar sites to metro Vancouver elsewhere in the world to inform on the expected nonlinear site response at metro Vancouver sites

Magdalena Kapron
M.Sc. Geophysics Candidate, UWO, Dept. Earth Sciences
Reconciling earthquake site characterization with the geology of stiff glaciated upland areas of Vancouver, British Columbia