Nadine (Igonin) Ushakov

PhD - Geophysics
University of Calgary, Canada - 2021

BSc - Geophysics
University of Calgary, Canada - 2016

Igonin, N., Trugman, D., Gonzalez, K., and Eaton, D., 2023, Spectral characteristics of hydraulic-fracturing induced seismicity can distinguish between activation of faults and fractures. Seismological Research Letters 2023 - publications

Ma, Y., Eaton, D., Igonin, N., and Wang, C., 2023, Machine learning-assisted processing workflow for multi-fiber DAS microseismic data. Frontiers in Earth Science 2023 - publications

Chatterjee, A., Igonin, N., and Trugman, D., 2023, A real-time and data-driven ground motion prediction framework for earthquake early warning. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, doi: 10.1785/0120220180. 2023 - publications

Igonin, N., Verdon, J.P., and Eaton, D., 2022, Seismic anisotropy reveals stress changes around a fault as it is activated by hydraulic fracturing. Seismological Research Letters 2022 - publications

Igonin, N., Verdon, J., Kendall, J.M., and Eaton, D., 2021, Large‐scale fracture systems are permeable pathways for fault activation during hydraulic fracturing. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 2021 - publications

Atkinson, G., Eaton, D., and Igonin, N., 2020, Developments in understanding seismicity triggered by hydraulic fracturing. Nature Reviews: Earth and Environment 2020 - publications

Poulin, A., Weir, R., Eaton, D., Igonin, N., Chen, Y., Lines, L., Lawton, D., 2019, Focal-time analysis: A new method for stratigraphic depth control of microseismicity and induced seismic events. Geophysics 2019 - publications

Igonin, N., Zecevic, M., and Eaton, D., 2018, Bi-linear magnitude-frequency distributions and characteristic earthquakes during hydraulic fracturing. Geophysical Research Letters 2018 - publications

Assistant Professor
University of Texas in Dallas [2023–Present]

SAGE Instructor
Summer of Applied Geophysical Research [2022–Present]
https://www.summerofappliedgeophysicalexperience.org

Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Texas at Austin [2021–2023]

Research Assistant
ExxonMobil [2020–2020]

Current Openings

There are no current openings in my research group. 

PhD Student Recruitment

Announcement: I am recruiting one exceptional PhD student in Seismology at the University of Texas at Dallas for Fall 2026.

Are you driven to push the boundaries of earthquake science and its intersection with the energy sector?

Projects:
- Observational seismology: Advanced waveform analysis and machine-learning-enhanced analysis of induced vs. natural events.
- Stress-drop evolution: High-resolution space-time mapping using spectral methods for earthquake hazard assessment.
- Reservoir-induced seismicity: Monitoring and modelling induced seismicity due to reservoir level changes across the USA.
- Seismic-aseismic coupling: Quantifying slow-slip transients and their interplay with dynamic rupture using dense array data.

Requirements:
- M.S. (or equivalent research experience) in seismology, geophysics, or closely related field with GPA ≥ 3.6/4.0(or international equivalent).
- Demonstrated research output: First-author conference presentation or peer-reviewed publication (preprint acceptable if under review).
- Quantitative rigor: Coursework or projects showing mastery of physics, geophysics, and numerical methods.
- Programming proficiency: Fluent in Python (ObsPy) or Matlab. GitHub portfolio or code samples required.
- Communication excellence: Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication, strong English scores.

To apply (deadline for full consideration: 15 Jan 2026): Email nadine.igonin@utdallas.edu with subject line “PhD Application – [Your Last Name] – Seismology 2026”. 

Attach:
- CV highlighting quantitative coursework, publications, and code repositories.
- 1-page research statement linking your past work to one specific project above.
- Unofficial transcripts.
- Contact details for two referees who have directly supervised your research.

Only candidates with proven excellence in geophysics and a clear research trajectory should apply. Competitive applicants will be invited for a 30-min technical interview in December/January.

Study Maps Stress Changes Around Fault Activated by Hydraulic Fracturing

Researchers were able to observe stress changes before and during an earthquake induced by hydraulic fracturing in Alberta, Canada, with the help of a phenomenon called seismic anisotropy.