Computational geophysicist

Yuan Tian

Assistant Project Scientist · UC Berkeley

I develop computational methods for wave physics and geophysical sensing, connecting numerical modeling, high-performance computing, and scientific machine learning.

Email me Google Scholar

Research

Projects, methods, and selected results

Explore projects 02

CV

Experience, education, and technical background

Open academic CV · PDF 03

Publications

Peer-reviewed work and direct paper links

Read publications

A closer look

Selected work

All research

Vertical-displacement wavefield at six seconds in the synthetic Marmousi model, with DFDM above and the SPECFEM2D reference below; red and blue waves overlay the grayscale velocity structure

UC Berkeley · Numerical methods

DFDM wave modeling

An illustrative seismic wavefield snapshot in the synthetic Marmousi model.

Explore the project

Magnetic anomaly map from the Osage County drone survey with confidence-labeled YOLO detection boxes and three enlarged examples

LLNL · Machine learning

MagYOLO on real data

Detecting candidate magnetic anomalies in real drone survey data.

Explore the project

Research Proposals

DOE · Annual Recurring University Training and Research

Geothermal fracture imaging with DFDM and borehole seismic sensing

LOI submitted, Oct 2026
Full proposal in preparation

NSF · Structure and Physics of the Solid Earth

DFDM optimization and fine-scale imaging of the deep mantle

Submitted, Sep 2026

DOE · Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI

AI-assisted DFDM implementation and optimization for wave simulations

Proposal submitted; alternate, Jul 2026

DOE · Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF)
CLIMR Lab Call, FY25

Machine Learning-Driven Autonomous Workflow for UAV Magnetic Data Processing and Interpretation

Concept paper encouraged
Principal Investigator · LLNL

Research

Physics, computation,
and geophysical sensing.

My work spans numerical wave propagation, planetary seismology, ground-motion analysis, and machine learning for geophysical data.

UC Berkeley · Current research

Distributional Finite Difference Method

Research in progress

I develop and benchmark the Distributional Finite Difference Method (DFDM) for seismic wave propagation.

This illustrative snapshot shows the vertical-displacement wavefield at 6 seconds in the synthetic Marmousi model. Wave amplitudes are shown in color over the grayscale velocity structure. Near-source artifacts remain under review.

Numerical methodsElastic wavesHPC

2026 SSA abstract

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

MagYOLO: detection in magnetic survey data

Research project

MagYOLO applies YOLO object detection to magnetic survey data.

On real drone magnetometry from Osage County, Oklahoma, detection boxes mark candidate magnetic anomalies and their confidence. These detections are not confirmed wells; the depth and length estimates shown in the lower panels remain unvalidated.

Object detectionMagnetic sensingReal data

Earth & planetary science

Waves across scales

Earth · Seismic wave propagation

How does a basin
amplify an earthquake?

Three-dimensional simulations of Alaska’s Nenana basin reveal how basin geometry, earthquake location, and frequency shape ground-motion amplification.

My work with Carl Tape compares multiple velocity models and observed seismic records to connect wave physics with local ground shaking.

SpecFEM3DHPCWavefield analysis

Read the 2025 JGR paper

Map of modeled amplification at 0.20 Hz in Nenana basin, central Alaska. Warmer colors indicate greater amplification, with a decibel color scale. — Nenana basin, Alaska · Modeled amplification at 0.20 Hz

Planets · Numerical methods

Seismology beyond
the spherical planet.

I developed AstroSeis, a 3D boundary-element code for seismic wavefields in irregular bodies, including surface topography and solid–liquid interfaces.

A grid of AstroSeis simulations showing frequency-dependent seismic wavefields across irregular planetary bodies. — Topography’s effect on frequency-dependent wavefields

AstroSeis code Paper

Energy · Seismic monitoring

Better surveys.
More informed monitoring.

At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I developed elastic-wave sensitivity-guided approaches to design adaptive seismic surveys for geological carbon storage.

Model elastic-wave sensitivity

Choose informative source–receiver layouts

Adapt to evolving CO₂ plume geometry

Demonstrated using the Kimberlina site in California.

Read the 2026 IJGGC paper

Research Proposals

DOE · Annual Recurring University Training and Research

Geothermal fracture imaging with DFDM and borehole seismic sensing

LOI submitted, Oct 2026
Full proposal in preparation

NSF · Structure and Physics of the Solid Earth

DFDM optimization and fine-scale imaging of the deep mantle

Submitted, Sep 2026

DOE · Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI

AI-assisted DFDM implementation and optimization for wave simulations

Proposal submitted; alternate, Jul 2026

DOE · Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF)
CLIMR Lab Call, FY25

Machine Learning-Driven Autonomous Workflow for UAV Magnetic Data Processing and Interpretation

Concept paper encouraged
Principal Investigator · LLNL

CV & background

Computational science,
from Earth to other worlds.

Experience across university research and a U.S. national laboratory, with a focus on computational geophysics.

Open academic CV · PDF

Updated October 2026.

Research profile

Model the physics.
Work with the data.

My research spans numerical wave propagation, planetary seismology, sedimentary-basin response, and geophysical monitoring.

I earned my Ph.D. in Geophysics at the University of Houston and my B.S. in Geophysics at the University of Science and Technology of China.

Selected tools & methods

Python · C++ · MATLAB · Fortran
DFDM · Boundary elements · SpecFEM
High-performance computing · Seismic data analysis

2026–present

University of California, Berkeley

Assistant Project Scientist

2023–2026

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Postdoctoral Research Staff

2020–2023

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Postdoctoral research, Geophysical Institute

2020

University of Houston

Ph.D. in Geophysics

2014

University of Science and Technology of China

B.S. in Geophysics

Aurora above a snowy Alaskan landscape, with a camper and an orange tent beneath the night sky.

Beyond the wavefield

Looking up.
Getting outside.

A little of Alaska, through my lens.

Alaska photography

Selected publications

Publications

Peer-reviewed work in computational seismology, planetary science, and geophysical monitoring.

Complete list on Google Scholar

2026
International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control
Elastic-wave sensitivity-guided adaptive seismic survey design for cost-effective monitoring of geological carbon storage
Y. Tian, X. Yang, L. Huang, K. Gao, J. Iyer, V. Vasylkivska & E. Gasperikova
153, 104655 · Published June 2026
Citation
Tian, Y., Yang, X., Huang, L., Gao, K., Iyer, J., Vasylkivska, V., & Gasperikova, E. (2026). Elastic-wave sensitivity-guided adaptive seismic survey design for cost-effective monitoring of geological carbon storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 153, 104655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2026.104655
DOI
2025
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Analysis of seismic wave amplification in sedimentary basins using 3D wavefield simulations: Nenana Basin, central Alaska
Y. Tian & C. Tape
130, e2025JB031559 · Open access
Citation
Tian, Y., & Tape, C. (2025). Analysis of seismic wave amplification in sedimentary basins using 3D wavefield simulations: Nenana Basin, central Alaska. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 130, e2025JB031559. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JB031559
DOI
2023
Seismological Research Letters
Mitigating power and memory constraints on a Venusian seismometer
Y. Tian, R. R. Herrick, M. E. West & T. Kremic
94(1), 159–171 · First published online in 2022
Citation
Tian, Y., Herrick, R. R., West, M. E., & Kremic, T. (2023). Mitigating power and memory constraints on a Venusian seismometer. Seismological Research Letters, 94(1), 159–171. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220220085
DOI
2020
Seismological Research Letters
AstroSeis: A 3D boundary element modeling code for seismic wavefields in irregular asteroids and bodies
Y. Tian & Y. Zheng
91(6), 3528–3538
Citation
Tian, Y., & Zheng, Y. (2020). AstroSeis: A 3D boundary element modeling code for seismic wavefields in irregular asteroids and bodies. Seismological Research Letters, 91(6), 3528–3538. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200145
DOI
2020
Planetary and Space Science
Rapid falling of an orbiting moon to its parent planet due to tidal–seismic resonance
Y. Tian & Y. Zheng
Article 104796
Citation
Tian, Y., & Zheng, Y. (2020). Rapid falling of an orbiting moon to its parent planet due to tidal-seismic resonance. Planetary and Space Science, 104796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2019.104796
DOI

Contact

Get in touch

Computational geophysics, wave modeling, and scientific machine learning.

yuan-tian@berkeley.edu

GitHub Google Scholar ORCID

Yuan Tian

Research

CV

Publications

Selected work

DFDM wave modeling

MagYOLO on real data

Research Proposals

Geothermal fracture imaging with DFDM and borehole seismic sensing

DFDM optimization and fine-scale imaging of the deep mantle

AI-assisted DFDM implementation and optimization for wave simulations

Machine Learning-Driven Autonomous Workflow for UAV Magnetic Data Processing and Interpretation

Physics, computation,and geophysical sensing.

Distributional Finite Difference Method

MagYOLO: detection in magnetic survey data

Waves across scales

How does a basinamplify an earthquake?

Seismology beyondthe spherical planet.

Better surveys.More informed monitoring.

Research Proposals

Geothermal fracture imaging with DFDM and borehole seismic sensing

DFDM optimization and fine-scale imaging of the deep mantle

AI-assisted DFDM implementation and optimization for wave simulations

Machine Learning-Driven Autonomous Workflow for UAV Magnetic Data Processing and Interpretation

Computational science,from Earth to other worlds.

Model the physics.Work with the data.

Selected tools & methods

University of California, Berkeley

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Houston

University of Science and Technology of China

Looking up.Getting outside.

Publications

Elastic-wave sensitivity-guided adaptive seismic survey design for cost-effective monitoring of geological carbon storage

Analysis of seismic wave amplification in sedimentary basins using 3D wavefield simulations: Nenana Basin, central Alaska

Mitigating power and memory constraints on a Venusian seismometer

AstroSeis: A 3D boundary element modeling code for seismic wavefields in irregular asteroids and bodies

Rapid falling of an orbiting moon to its parent planet due to tidal–seismic resonance

Get in touch

Physics, computation,
and geophysical sensing.

How does a basin
amplify an earthquake?

Seismology beyond
the spherical planet.

Better surveys.
More informed monitoring.

Computational science,
from Earth to other worlds.

Model the physics.
Work with the data.

Looking up.
Getting outside.