Prof. Ritske Huismans (University of Bergen, Norway)

Prof. Robert Gawthorpe (University of Bergen, Norway)

Dr. Thomas Theunissen (University of Bergen, Norway)

Dr. Sebastian Wolf (University of Bergen, Norway)

Dr. Elco.Luijendijk (University of Bergen, Norway)

Dr. Delphine Rouby (Géoscience Environnement Toulouse, CNRS, France)

Dr. Dominique Chardon (Géoscience Environnement Toulouse, CNRS, France)

Prof. Jean Braun (GFZ Potsdam, Germany)

Prof. Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth (GFZ Potsdam, Germany)

Dr. Hui Tang (GFZ Potsdam, Germany)

Dr. Mauro Cacace (GFZ Potsdam, Germany)

Prof. Bodo Bookhagen (Postsdam Univ., Germany)

Prof. Josep Anton Muñoz (Barcelona Univ., Spain)

Dr. Oriol Ferrer (Barcelona Univ., Spain)

Dr. Pablo Santoloria (Barcelona Univ., Spain)

Ingra Barbosa (University of Bergen, Norway).

PhD project : "3D response of active rift evolution to surface processes: the Corinth Rift system, Greece", Supervisor:  Prof. Ritske Huismans.

I am a Brazilian Oceanographer with a master’s degree in Geophysics, currently working at the University of Bergen (Norway) in the Geodynamics and Surface Processes research group as a PhD Research Fellow. I initially worked in Biochemical and Physical Oceanography, but my growing interest in the geological world led me to shift my career toward marine seismic profile analysis and geodynamic modelling. I am now investigating the 3D response of active rift evolution to surface processes in the Corinth Rift system, Greece, as part of the INITIATE MSCA network.

Wenchao Cheng (GFZ Potsdam, Germany).

PhD project : "How does anthropogenic climate change control debris flow activities in active tectonic areas", Supervisor: Dr. Hui Tang.

I come from China. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from Shandong University of Science and Technology, and later pursued a Master’s degree in Applied Environmental Hydrogeology at the University of Edinburgh. For my PhD project, I investigate how climate change will influence debris flow activities in active tectonic regions. I use numerical modeling, data analysis, and machine learning to better understand hazard dynamics and enhance early warning systems.

Chris DiPaolo (University of Bergen, Norway).

PhD project : "High-resolution sedimentary dynamics of rifts during rapid climate change : the Corinth Rift", Supervisor: Prof. Rob Gawthorpe.

I am a geologist from the US who is interested in sediment dynamics and geohazards. I did my bachelor's degree at University of Oregon, and my master’s at University of Bern, where I investigated sediment dynamics in lacustrine tsunamis. For my PhD, I'm investigating sediment dynamics in high resolution in the active Gulf of Corinth rift at UiB

Tom Garot (Barcelona Univ., Spain).

PhD project : "Contractional deformation of salt bearing rifted margins : the Western Pyrenees-Cantabrian foreland basin systems and the geological storage potential", Supervisor: Prof. Josep Anton Muñoz.

I am a PhD candidate at the University of Barcelona. I hold a MSc in Georesources from Université Grenoble-Alpes and a BSc in Geology from Université de Bordeaux. I gained professional experience at TotalEnergies, contributing to structural studies and petroleum exploration projects in West Africa. My doctoral research now focuses on the geodynamic, structural evolution and numerical modelling of the Basque-Cantabrian and Parentis basins, aiming to better understand their tectono-sedimentary evolution.

William Munday (Barcelona Univ., Spain).

PhD project : "Response of the Andean foreland fold and thrust belt to spatial and temporal variations of climate and structural inheritance", Supervisor: Prof. Josep Anton Muñoz.

In 2021, I completed his Earth Sciences Bachelor's degree at the Université Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, France. I continued his Master’s studies at both the University of Toulouse and the University of Lyon. During this time, I worked on a salt tectonics project in the Northern Calcareous Alps at the University of Vienna. To finish my Masters degree, I then joined a short project focusing on fluid circulation near the Onion Creek Salt Diapir in Utah, which was a collaboration between the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and Northern Illinois University (NIU) in the United States.

Nida Patla (Géoscience Environnement Toulouse, CNRS, France).

PhD project : "3D flexural isostatic response of the African plate to Neogene climate change and/or mantle flow", Supervisor: Dr. Delphine Rouby.

I am a PhD student at the GET Laboratory, CNRS, and University of Toulouse. I did my Master’s in Marine Geology (2021-2023) from Cochin University of Science and Technology (India) and a Bachelor’s in Geology (2018-2021) from Government College Kasaragod (India). I did my master’s thesis at CSIR-NGRI on ‘Seismicity, Isostasy, and Gravity anomalies of Indo-Eurasian Collision Zone’. I had experience with mapping and analytical tools like GMT, QGIS, Grapher, Surfer and Didger.

Francina Saiz (University of Bergen, Norway).

PhD project : "3D evolution of foreland fold-and-thrust belts, links between deposition, salt / shale tectonics and climate, including orography: southern Andes", Supervisor: Prof. Ritske Huismans.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Geology in 2023 and my master’s in Reservoir Geology in 2024, both from the University of Barcelona. My training has provided me with a solid foundation in the classical branches of geology and field work, particularly basin analysis, tectonics, and structural geology. My final projects in both programs focused on fold-and-thrust belts (Pyrenees and Alps) from different perspectives, giving me a unique view and understanding of the complexity of these systems.

Kartik Sakkarwal (Postsdam Univ., Germany).

PhD project : "Rates of landscape evolution and topographic signatures of mass movements in the Central Andes", Supervisor: Prof. Bodo Bookhagen.

I am Kartik Sakkarwal from Delhi, India. I hold a BS-MS degree in Earth Sciences from IISER Kolkata, where I developed strong theoretical and laboratory expertise in isotope geochemistry and geomorphology. My master’s thesis focused on provenance analysis and sediment recycling in the Himalayan foreland basin. My research interests lie in understanding landscape evolution and sediment routing system using geochemical and numerical methods.

Zsuzsanna Vatai (GFZ Potsdam, Germany).

PhD project : "3D data-derived structural, thermal and rheological configuration of Corinth Rift system", Supervisor: Prof. Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth.

I am a geophysicist with a Master’s degree from Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, where I modeled groundwater age and flow. After working at the Geological Survey of Hungary, I began my PhD at GFZ Potsdam within the MSCA-funded INITIATE Doctoral Network. My project uses a data-integrative approach to create a digital twin of the Gulf of Corinth and test hypotheses on how and where deformation localizes in the present-day rift.

Marco Moreno Sánchez (Géoscience Environnement Toulouse, CNRS, France).

PhD project : "Stratigraphic signature of the 3D evolution of rift systems (Suez Rift) following the Neogene climate change", Supervisor: Dr. Delphine Rouby.

I explore how rift systems evolve through time by connecting tectonic deformation, surface processes, and climate. My PhD within the INITIATE network focuses on the 4D evolution of the Suez Rift, combining field data, GIS, and numerical modelling to understand how landscapes and crustal structures co-evolve. I am passionate about bridging geoscience and digital technology—using tools like GIS, Python, and 3D visualization to reveal Earth’s dynamics. I enjoy collaborating across disciplines and exploring innovative ways to model and communicate complex geological processes.

John Kent Remolador (Postsdam Univ., Germany).

PhD project : "Topographic signatures of mass movements in the Central Andes and Corinth Rift", Supervisor: Prof. Bodo Bookhagen.

I am a geoscientist and remote sensing specialist with interests in natural hazards, surface processes, geodesy, and machine learning. I have previously worked on research projects dealing with earthquake deformation, landslide hazards, and landslide early warning systems. In my current doctoral project, I am studying recent Earth surface (e.g., erosion-sedimentation, landslides) and atmospheric (e.g., water vapour transport) processes in the Central Andes with radar geodesy.

Nimisha Anna George (GFZ Potsdam, Germany).

PhD project : "Mechanical, hydrogeological and thermal response of the subsurface to climate change in North Central Europe", Supervisor: Prof. Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth & Dr. Mauro Cacace.

I hold an M.Sc. in Marine Geophysics from CUSAT, India, and a B.Sc. in Physics from Assumption College. Before my PhD, I worked as a Project Associate at CSIR-NGRI, focusing on delineation of coal bearing seams through well data and CO₂ storage monitoring. I am a PhD. student at GFZ Potsdam. a PhD. student at GFZ Potsdam. My research interests include geophysical processing, subsurface characterization, and modelling.

Alessandro Gibellini (University of Bergen, Norway).

PhD project : "3D evolution of foreland fold-and-thrust belts, links between deposition, salt tectonics and climate, including orography: southern Pyrenees", Supervisor: Prof. Ritske Huismans.

I am from Ghisalba, a small village in the province of Bergamo, in Northern Italy, very close to the Orobic Alps. I completed my master’s thesis at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in Milan. Before coming to Bergen, I worked as an environmental geologist, providing consulting services primarily in hydrogeology, slope stability and geotechnical problems, especially for gravel and sand quarries, and occasionally for other specialized projects. My work also involved in-situ ground- and surface-water monitoring and using CAD software for infrastructure design.