Hejun Zhu, Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at Southern University of Science and Technology. Prof. Zhu received his B.S. in Geology at Sun Yat-sen University in 2005, M.S. in Geophysics at Peking University in 2008, and Ph.D. in Geosciences at Princeton University in 2013. From 2013 to 2015, he was a Jackson School Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Since August 2015, he joined the University of Texas at Dallas as an assistant professor and then was promoted as an associate professor with tenure in 2021. He joined Southern University of Science and Technology in 09/2024. Prof. Zhu is a structural and computational seismologist, interested in (1) imaging the physical properties of the Earth’s materials, which can be used to investigate the thermal and compositional evolution of the Earth as well as locating subsurface hydrocarbon reserves; (2) understanding the Earth’s dynamic responses to diverse environmental processes. So far, he has published more than 70 peer-reviewed journal papers, including Science (1), Nature Geoscience (1), Nature Communications (3), Geophysical Research Letters, etc.  He was the recipient of the J. Clarence Karcher Award from the Society of Explorational Geophysicists in 2019, the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation in 2021, and the Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Fellow in 2023. He was a visiting professor at University of Tokyo, Japan in 2022 and Ludwig-Maximilians University, Germany in 2023. He is now an associate Editor for journals “Geophysics” and “Scientific Report”.

Education

2008-2013, Princeton University, Ph.D. 

2005-2008, Peking University, M.S.

2001-2005, Sun Yat-sen University, B.S. 

Experience 

2024-present, Professor, Southern University of Science and Technology 

2021-2024, Tenured associate professor, The University of Texas at Dallas 

2015-2021, Assistant professor, The University of Texas at Dallas 

2013-2015, Jackson School Distinguished Postdoc, The University of Texas at Austin 

Award 

2023, Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Fellow, The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 

2021, CAREER award, National Science Foundation 

2019, Editors’ Citation for Excellence in Refereeing– Geophysical Research Letters 

2019, J. Clarence Karcher Award, Society of Explorational Geophysicists

2013, Jackson School Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship, UT Austin 

2012, Excellence Prize of 2012 Chinese Government Awards for Outstanding Students Abroad 

Research

1. Seismic wave imaging 

2. Physics of Earth's interior 

3. Environmental seismology 

4. Exploration seismology

Publications

1. B. He, C. Yu, D. Lumley, Q. Liu, N. Takeuchi and H. Kawakatsu and H. Zhu, 2024, Passive source reverse time migration based on the spectral element method, Journal of Geophysical Research, in revision. 

2. O. Budur, X. Li, D. Lumley and H. Zhu, 2024, Seismic full-waveform inversion reveals radially anisotropic upper mantle structures beneath the Australian Plate, Journal of Geophysical Research, in revision. 

3. B. He, H. Zhu and D. Lumley, 2024, Improving signal-to-noise ratios of ambient noise cross- correlation functions using local attributes, Geophysical Journal International, 10.1093/gji/ggae228. 

4. B. He, K. Wang, T. Liu, T. Lei, N. Du, S. van der Lee, F. Darbyshire, A. Frederiksen, H. Zhu, D. Lumley and Q. Liu, 2024, Lithospheric structure of the Mid-continent Rift revealed by full waveform joint inversion of ambient-noise data and teleseismic P waves, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, in press. 

5. X. Dong, H. Zhu and D. Yang, 2024, Optimal transport map with prescribed direction indicator for seismic full-waveform inversion, Journal of Geophysical Research, 10.1029/2023JB027342. 

6. J. Yang, S. Qin, J. Huang, H. Zhu, D. Lumley, G. McMechan, J. Sun and H. Zhang, 2024, Truncated pseudo-differential operator and its applications in viscoacoustic reverse-time migration, Geophysical Journal International, 1794-1807. 

7. J. Yang, J. Huang, H. Zhang, J. Sun, H. Zhu, G. McMechan and Y. Zhang, 2024, Low-rank representation for seismic reflectivity model and its application in least-squares imaging, Surveys in Geophysics, in press. 

8. J. Yang, H. Zhu, Z. Zhao, J. Huang, D. Lumley, R. Stern, A. Arnulf, R. Dunn and J. Ma, 2024, Asymmetric magma plumbing beneath the Axial Seamount of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, Nature Communications, 4767. 

9. Y. Zhang, H. Zhu, Y. Liu and T. Chen, 2024, Power-law frequency-dependent Q simulations in viscoacoustic media using decoupled fractional Laplacians, Geophysics, T183-T194. 

10. H. Wu, S. Zhang, X. Dong, H. Zhu and S. Lu, 2024, Joint migration inversion based on a full-wavefield acoustic wave equation with vector reflectivity, IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, doi:1109/TGRS.2024.3349608.

11. Y. Zhang, H. Zhu, Y. Liu and T. Chen, 2024, Frequency-dependent Q simulation and viscoa- coustic reverse-time migration based on the fractional Zener model, Geophysics, S47-S59. 

12. Y. Zhang, T. Chen, H. Zhu and Y. Liu, 2024, A stable Q-compensated reverse-time migration method using fractional viscoacoustic wave equation, Geophysics, S15-S29. 

13. S. Zhang and H. Zhu, 2023, Constructing a 3-D radially anisotropic crustal velocity model for Oklahoma using full waveform inversion, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, e2023JB026992. 

14. S. Zhang, B. Luo, Y. Ben-Zion, D. Lumley and H. Zhu, 2023, Monitoring terrestrial water storage, drought and seasonal changes in central Oklahoma with ambient seismic noise, Geophysical Research Letters, e2023GL103419. 

15. B. Luo, S. Zhang and H. Zhu, 2023, Monitoring seasonal fluctuation and long-term trends for the Greenland Ice Sheet using seismic noise auto-correlations, Geophysical Research Letters, e2022GL102146. 

16. H. Feng, W. Gan, L. Qiu, X. Ye, H. Zhu and Z. Jin, 2023, Spatio-temporal distribution and geo- dynamic evolution of Cenozoic volcanism in northeast China: insights from a new geochronological compilation, International Geology Review, doi:10.1080/00206814.2023.2247837. 

17. Y. Zhang, T. Chen, Y. Liu and H. Zhu, 2023, High-temporal-accuracy viscoacoustic wave propa- gation based on k-space compensation and the fractional Zener model, Surveys in Geophysics, 821-845. 

18. Y. Zhang, T. Chen, H. Zhu, Y. Liu, T. Xing and X. Zhang, 2023, Approximating constant-Q seismic wave propagation in acoustic and elastic media using a Cole-Cole model, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 312-332. 

19. H. Zhu, Q. Liu and J. Yang, 2023, Recent progress on full waveform inversion, Reviews of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, 287-317. 

20. C. Duan, D. Lumley and H. Zhu, 2022, Micro-earthquake location and uncertainty analysis using a wavefront cross-correlation imaging method: a comparison with traveltime inversion and full wavefield imaging methods, Geophysics, KS147-KS167 

21. J. Yang, J. Huang, H. Zhu, G. McMechan and Z. Li, 2022, Introduction to a two-way beam wave method and its applications in seismic imaging, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, e2021JB023357. 

22. J. Yang, J. Huang, H. Zhu, G. McMechan and Z. Li, 2022, An efficient and stable high- resolution seismic imaging method: Point-spread function deconvolution, Journal of Geophys- ical Research-Solid Earth, e2021JB023281. 

23. B. Luo, H. Zhu, J. Yang, T. Lay, L. Ye, Z. Lu and D. Lumley, 2022, Detecting and locating aftershocks for the 2020 Mw 6.5 Stanley, Idaho earthquake using convolutional neural networks, Seismological Research Letters, 3266-3277. 

24. Y. Chen, Z. Zhao and H. Zhu, 2022, Biot-spherical (BISSQ) model for wave attenuation and dispersion, Geophysical Journal International, 1138-1149. 

25. F. Kong, S. Gao, K. Liu, Y. Fang, J. Li, R. Stern and H. Zhu, 2022, Metastable olivine within oceanic lithosphere in the uppermost lower mantle, Geology, 776-780. 

26. X. Dong, D. Yang and H. Zhu, 2022, Geometry-preserving full waveform tomography and its application in the Longmen Shan area, Science China Earth Sciences, 437-448. 

27. Y. Zhang, Y. Liu, H. Zhu, T. Chen and J. Li, 2022, Modified viscoelastic wave propagations in the time domain using the new fractional Laplacians, Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 346-361. 

28. Y. Zhang, T. Chen, Y. Liu, H. Zhu, G. Zhu and Y. Niu, 2022, Viscoelastic wave propagation in transversely isotropic media based on constant-order fractional polynomial approximations, Geophysics, T363-T379. 

29. Y. Chen, L. Colli, D. Bird and H. Zhu, 2021, Caribbean plate tilted and actively dragged eastwards by low-viscosity asthenospheric flow, Nature Communications, 12, 1–9. 

30. J. Yang, H. Zhu, T. Lay, Y. Niu, L. Ye, Z. Lu, B. Luo, H. Kanamori, J. Huang and Z. Li, 2021, Multi-fault opposing-dip strike-slip and normal-fault rupture during the 2020 Mw 6.5 Stanley, Idaho earthquake, Geophysical Research Letters, e2021GL092510. 

31. J. Yang, J. Huang, Z. Li, H. Zhu and G. McMechan, 2021, Approximating the Gauss-Newton Hessian using space-wavenumber filter and its applications in least-squares seismic imaging, Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, doi:10.1109/TGRS.2021.3064852. 

32. J. Yang, J. Huang, Z. Li, H. Zhu, G. McMechan, J. Zhang, C. Hu and Y. Zhao, 2021, Mitigating velocity errors in least-squares imaging using angle-dependent forward and adjoint Gaussian beam operators, Survey in Geophysics, 1305-1346. 

33. J. Yang, J. Huang, H. Zhu and N. Dai, 2021, Viscoacoustic reverse time migration with a robust space-wavenumber domain attenuation compensation operator, Geophysics, 86, 1–95. 

34. C. Duan, D. Lumley and H. Zhu, 2021, Estimation of micro-earthquake locations based on full adjoint P and S wavefield imaging, Geophysical Journal International, 226, 2116–2144. 

35. H. Zhu, R. Stern and J. Yang, 2020, Seismic evidence for subduction-induced mantle flows un- derneath Middle America, Nature Communications, 11, 1-12.

36. J. Yang, H. Zhu and D. Lumley, 2020, Time-lapse imaging of coseismic ruptures for the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes using multi-azimuth back-projection with regional seismic data and a 3D crustal velocity model, Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL087181. 

37. H. Zhu, X. Li, J. Yang, R. Stern and D. Lumley, 2020, Poloidal- and toroidal-mode mantle flows underneath the Cascadia Subduction Zone, Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL087430. 

38. J. Yang, H. Zhu, X. Li, L. Ren and S. Zhang, 2020, Estimating P-wave velocity and attenuation structure using full waveform inversion based on a time-domain complex-valued viscoacoustic wave equation: The method, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB019129. 

39. J. Yang, B. Hua, P. Williamson, H. Zhu, G. McMechan and J. Huang, 2020, Elastic least-squares imaging in tilted transversely isotropic media for multicomponent land and pressure marine data, Survey in Geophysics, 41, 805-833. 

40. H. Zhu, J. Yang and X. Li, 2020, Azimuthal anisotropy of the North American upper man- tle based on full waveform inversion, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 125, e2019JB018432. 

41. X. Dong, D. Yang and H. Zhu, 2020, Adjoint tomography of the lithospheric structure beneath Northeastern Tibet, Seismological Research Letters, 91, 3304–3312. 

42. A. Lloyd, D. Wiens, H. Zhu, J. Tromp, A. Nyblade, R. Aster, S. Hansen, I. Dalziel and T. Wilson, 2019, Seismic structure of the Antarctic upper mantle imaged with adjoint tomography, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 125, 10.1029/2019JB017823. 

43. J. Yang, H. Zhu, G. McMechan, H. Zhang and Y. Zhao, 2019, Elastic least-squares reverse-time migration in vertical transverse isotropic media, Geophysics, 84, S539-S553. 

44. Y. Zhao, T. Liu, X. Jia, H. Liu, Z. Xue, H. Zhang, H. Zhu and H. Liang, 2019, Surface-offset gathers from elastic reverse-time migration and velocity analysis, Geophysics, 85, S47-S64. 

45. J. Yang and H. Zhu, 2019, Viscoacoustic least-squares reverse-time migration using a time-domain complex-valued wave equation, Geophysics, 84, S479–S499. 

46. J. Yang and H. Zhu, 2019, Locating and monitoring microseismicity, hydraulic fracture and earthquake rupture using elastic reverse-time migration, Geophysical Journal International, 216, 726–744. 

47. J. Yang, H. Zhang, Y. Zhao and H. Zhu, 2019, Elastic wavefield separation in anisotropic media based on eigenform analysis and its applications in reverse-time migration, Geophysical Journal Internal, 217, 1290–1313. 

48. J. Yang and H. Zhu, 2018, Viscoacoustic reverse-time migration using a time-domain complex- valued wave equation, Geophysics, 83, S505–S519. 

49. J. Yang, H. Zhu, W. Wang, Y. Zhao and H. Zhang, 2018, Isotropic elastic reverse-time migration using phase- and amplitude-corrected vector P- and S-wavefields. Geophysics, 83, S489–S503. 

50. J. Yang and H. Zhu, 2018, A time-domain complex-valued wave equation for modeling viscoa- coustic wave propagation, Geophysical Journal International, 215, 1064–1079. 

51. H. Zhu, 2018, High Vp/Vs ratio in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath volcanoes in the Central and Eastern Anatolia, Geophysical Journal International, 214, 2151–2163. 

52. H. Zhu, 2018, Crustal wavespeed structure of North Texas and Oklahoma based on ambient noise cross-correlation functions and adjoint tomography, Geophysical Journal International, 214, 716–730. 

53. J. Yang and H. Zhu, G. McMechan and Y. Yue, 2018, Time-domain least-squares migration using the Gaussian beam summation method, Geophysical Journal International, 214, 548–572. 

54. X. Li and H. Zhu, 2018, A finite-difference approach for solving pure quasi-P wave equation in transversely isotropic and orthorthombic media, Geophysics, 83, C161–C172. 

55. H. Zhu, 2018, Seismogram registration via Markov chain Monte Carlo optimization and its ap- plications in full waveform inversion, Geophysical Journal International, 212, 976-987. 

56. J. Yang and H. Zhu, 2018, A practical data-driven optimization strategy for Gaussian beam migration, Geophysics, 83, S81-S92. 

57. J. Yang, H. Zhu, J. Huang and Z. Li, 2018, 2D isotropic elastic Gaussian beam migration for common-shot multicomponent records, Geophysics, 83, S127-S140. 

58. H. Zhu, D. Komatitsch and J. Tromp, 2017, Radial anisotropy of the North American upper mantle based on adjoint tomography with USArray, Geophysical Journal International, 211, 349–377. 

59. Z. Xue, H. Zhu and S. Fomel, 2017, Full waveform inversion using seislet regularization, Geophysics, 82, A43–A49. 

60. H. Zhu, 2017, Elastic wavefield separation based on the Helmholtz decomposition, Geophysics, 82, S173–S183. 

61. H. Zhu, S. Li, S. Fomel, G. Stadler and O. Ghattas, 2016, A Bayesian approach to estimate uncer- tainty for full-waveform inversion using a priori information from depth migration, Geophysics, 81, R307–R323. 

62. H. Zhu and S. Fomel, 2016, Building good starting model for full-waveform inversion using adaptive matching filtering misfit, Geophysics, 81, U61–U72. 

63. H. Zhu, E. Bozdag and J. Tromp, 2015, Seismic structure of the European crust and upper mantle based on adjoint tomography, Geophysical Journal International, 201, 18-52. 

64. H. Zhu and J. Tromp, 2013, Mapping tectonic deformation in the crust and upper mantle beneath Europe and the North Atlantic Ocean, Science, 341, 871–875. 

65. H. Zhu, E. Bozdag, T. Duffy and J. Tromp, 2013, Seismic attenuation beneath Europe and the North Atlantic: Implications for water in the mantle, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 381, 1–11. 

66. H. Zhu, E. Bozdag, D. Peter and J. Tromp, 2012, Seismic wavespeed images across the Iapetus and Tornquist Suture Zones, Geophysical Research Letter, 39, L18304. 

67. H. Zhu, E. Bozdag, D. Peter and J. Tromp, 2012, Structure of the European upper mantle revealed by adjoint tomography, Nature Geoscience, 5, 493–498. 

68. J. Tromp, D. Komatitsch, V. Hjorleifsdottir, Q.Y. Liu, H. Zhu, D. Peter, E. Bozdag, D. McRitchie, P. Friberg, C. Trabant, 2010, Near real-time simulation of global CMT earthquakes, Geophysical Journal International, 183, 381–389. 

69. H. Zhu, Y. Luo, T. Nissen-Meyer, C. Morency and J. Tromp, 2009, Elastic imaging and time-lapse migration based upon adjoint methods, Geophysics, 74, WCA167–WCA177. 

70. Y. Luo, H. Zhu, T. Nissen-Meyer, C. Morency and J. Tromp, 2009, Seismic modeling and imaging based upon spectral-element and adjoint methods, The Leading Edge, 28, 568–574. 

71. H. Zhu, W. Zhang and X.F. Chen, 2009, Two-dimensional seismic wave simulation in anisotropic media by non-staggered finite difference method, Chinese Journal Geophysics, 52, 1536–1546.