Staff profile
Professor Nicola De Paola
Professor of Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics
| Affiliation |
|---|
| Professor of Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics in the Department of Earth Sciences |
Biography
2021 - Present: Professor of Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics (Durham University)
2012 - 2020: Associate Professor of Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics (Durham University)
2007 - 2012: Assistant Professor (Lecturer) of Structural Geology and Rock Mechanics, (Durham University)
2005 – 2007: Post-doctoral Research Associate University of Perugia (Italy).
Research Themes and Methods
Nicola’s research themes are in the study of fault and earthquake mechanics. Throughout his career, Nicola has adopted a multidisciplinary research approach that combines fieldwork and microstructural observations with rock physics and mechanics experimental datasets. Nicola established the Rock Mechanics Laboratory (RML) at Durham University in 2012, and has since developed major UK Research Council (e.g., NERC, UKUH) and industry funded (e.g., MAERSK, DONG) programmes. Recent work carried out in the RML at Durham University contributes to our understanding of the processes that control earthquake rupture propagation, including induced seismicity. Nicola’s core research interests in fault and earthquake mechanics have broaden to include human induced seismicity studies. In particular, recent projects and studies address the issues posed by induced seismicity in enhanced geothermal systems.