Hejun Zhu

Dr. Hejun Zhu is an Associate Professor of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He holds a PhD in Geoscience from Princeton University (2013), following a Master’s in Geophysics from Peking University and a Bachelor’s in Geology from Sun Yat-sen University. His research focuses on structural seismology, exploration seismology, and earthquake seismology, with specialties in seismic full-waveform inversion, mantle dynamics, and viscoacoustic modeling.

Key professional milestones include the NSF CAREER Award (2021) and the J. Clarence Karcher Award (2019). His work has led to breakthroughs such as imaging 3D mantle flows in subduction zones and developing advanced seismic models for North America. Dr. Zhu’s research is funded by major grants, including a $536,729 NSF award for multi-parameter seismic modeling.

His publications span high-impact topics like seismic monitoring of groundwater changes in Yellowstone, viscoacoustic reverse-time migration algorithms, and structural analysis of cratonic lithosphere. He advises doctoral students in geosciences, with notable advisees including Jaewook Lee, Jidong Yang, and Mengli Zhang. Dr. Zhu’s lab integrates computational seismology and field data to advance understanding of Earth’s subsurface processes.